KIEV, January 24. /ITAR-TASS/. Arseny Yatsenyuk, leader of the Ukrainian parliamentary opposition faction Batkivshchina (Fatherland), on Friday announced a broadening of protests area to Grushevsky Street.

Speaking before participants in an indefinite protest action in Independence Square, he stated the need to include "in Maidan" (square) the Grushevsky Street which neighbors on it through European Square. In the past days the Grushevsky Street became the arena of tough clashes between the most radically-minded protesters and militia units that cut off access to the compound of government buildings.

The parliamentary faction leader said the opposition intends to carry on talks with the authorities to wrest from them "real and practicable promises". In this connection he called on protesters to be persevering and observe discipline. "It's we who care for the future of people and the destiny of the country," he stated. "Our protest is exclusively a peaceful one. No step backward".

In his remarks in the Independence Square in recent days, Yatsenyuk has been actively urging the protesters resolutely to attack militia cordons and even expressing readiness if necessary boldly to bare his forehead in defiance of bullets", whereas in Friday's remarks addressed to protesters he emphasized the need for responsibility and order.