KIEV: Ukraine's first post-independence president on Wednesday warned that the country was on the brink of civil war as parliament struggled to find an agreement on granting an amnesty to protesters arrested in the crisis.

Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his entire government resigned on Tuesday after weeks of protests that began when President Viktor Yanukovych pulled out of a key EU deal in favour of closer ties with Moscow in November.

The resignation of Azarov, a close ally of Yanukovych, was the biggest scalp claimed by the opposition after two months of protests. But none of the president's concessions have appeased protest leaders who vow to press on for his resignation.

Tensions in Kiev, which last week saw three activists shot dead in clashes between police and protesters, have calmed somewhat since negotiations between the government and the opposition gained traction.

But there still appears to be no easy way out of a crisis which will influence the future strategic orientation of the nation of 46 million people sandwiched between Russia and the EU.

With concern mounting that Ukraine could become mired in a long-lasting civil conflict, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and UN special envoy Robert Serry both held talks with Yanukovych on Wednesday.

“The negotiations between the authorities and the opposition should calm the situation,” said Ukrainian political analyst Taras Berezovets, adding that the authorities had nonetheless still failed to rule out the use of force against protesters.

Urging deputies to come to an agreement on the amnesty issue, former president Leonid Kravchuk warned parliament that the country was “on the brink of civil war”.

“It is a revolution. It is a dramatic situation in which we must act with the greatest responsibility,” Kravchuk, president from 1991 to 1994, said to applause and a standing ovation.

“We need to ease the confrontation between the sides and agree a plan to solve the conflict,” he added.

Dozens of activists have been arrested since clashes broke out Jan 19, both in Kiev and in the provinces where activists have stormed regional administration buildings.

Parliament negotiations between the ruling Regions Party and the opposition on the amnesty were proving tough, with the opposition objecting to a condition it would only be granted if protesters left all seized buildings and streets.

Verkhovna Rada speaker Volodymyr Rybak announced that a text had been agreed but there was still no sign of a vote taking place with opposition MPs saying they were still unhappy with it.

It’s not enough! do not stop: Tuesday’s concessions were the biggest yet by the authorities trying to placate protesters who have occupied streets and official buildings in the centre of Kiev for over two months, but the opposition made it clear it wanted more.

The UDAR (Punch) party leader and world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko said: “Azarov should have resigned two months ago... Now the logical step would be the resignation of Viktor Yanukovych.

” Jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who the opposition says is the victim of a political vendetta by Yanukovych, welcomed the concessions but added: “It is not enough.

Do not stop!” First Deputy Prime Minister Sergiy Arbuzov, who is also close to Yanukovych, has taken over as premier in a caretaker role until a replacement is named.

Some analysts floated the idea that a pro-opposition tycoon, Petro Poroshenko, might step into the post full time. But opposition leaders have signalled they do not want to be in the government.

Protesters, some from right-wing radical groups, remain camped out in the sprawling military-style enclosure that has taken over much of the city centre and have now erected wooden watchtowers at their barricades.—AFP