Ukraine PM Azarov's 'difficult decision' to step down

Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych has accepted the resignation of the prime minister and his cabinet amid continuing anti-government protests.

In a televised address, Mykola Azarov said he had taken "a very difficult, but a responsible decision" to offer his resignation.

"I took that decision to give an opportunity to all political forces to reach an agreement, to reach a compromise and end the crisis we are going through," he added.

Protests have spread in recent days across Ukraine, even to President Yanukovych's stronghold in the east.