DHAKA: Ukrainian opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk says protests will continue despite President Viktor Yanukovych`s offer to appoint him as prime minister.

Yatsenyuk said the opposition was generally ready to accept leadership, but several key demands must be met, including new elections, reports BBC.

Meanwhile clashes have continued in Kiev, with activists trying to storm a building where riot police are based.

The president`s proposal came amid new efforts to end the deadly unrest.

He offered the post of prime minister to Yatsenyuk and the position of deputy PM to former boxer Vitali Klitschko following talks on Saturday.
`Not afraid`

Speaking to large crowds in central of Kiev late on Saturday, the opposition leaders did not explicitly say whether they accepted the offer but repeated their demands.

"Viktor Yanukovych announced that the government wasn`t ready to take the responsibility for the country and offered to the opposition to lead the government," said Yatsenyuk.

"What is our response to this? We are not afraid of the responsibility for the destiny of Ukraine."

The opposition is demanding that a free trade agreement with the European Union be signed and political prisoners be freed, including former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

They are also demanding early presidential elections. A vote is not due until 2015.

Later, in a tweet referring to the president`s offer, Yatsenyuk said: "We`re finishing what we started. The people decide our leaders, not you."

Klitschko told the crowd that they would press ahead with their demands and that talks would continue.

"We are not turning back and we will keep discussing and trying to find a direction," he said.

Yatsenyuk added that Tuesday, when a special session of parliament has been called, would be "judgement day".

BDST: 1014 HRS, JAN 26, 2014