Ukraine annuls anti-protest law

The Ukrainian parliament has voted overwhelmingly to annul controversial anti-protest legislation, the BBC said. 

The decision comes less than two weeks after it was introduced.

The laws, which banned the wearing of helmets by protesters and the blockading of public buildings, had helped fuel continuing anti-government demonstrations.

Parliament - holding an emergency debate on the crisis - voted by 361 to 2 to repeal the protest law.

President Viktor Yanukovych had already agreed to scrap the legislation in a concession to the opposition.

But up until the vote, it was unclear how MPs from his governing Party of the Regions would cast their ballots as they were allowed a "free vote" - to vote as they saw fit.

Aside from the ban on helmets and blockades, the legislation had outlawed unauthorised tents in public areas and the slandering of government officials.