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Downtown Kiev in Opposition Hands, Government Forces Missing

<p>The streets, clear of pro-government forces, were full of residents and protesters walking freely.</p>
Image: Protesters ride atop of what appears to be a military truck in central Kiev, Ukraine
Protesters ride atop of what appears to be a military truck in central Kiev, Ukraine, on Saturday.Darko Bandic / AP

KIEV, Ukraine - Downtown Kiev looked to be in the hands of the opposition on Saturday, after President Viktor Yanukovych made huge concessions to protesters and then left the city.

The streets, clear of government forces, were full of residents walking freely. Opposition demonstrators had earlier surrounded the president's offices in the city's government district.

Meanwhile, the country's parliament elected opposition lawmaker Arsen Avakov as interior minister until the formation of a new coalition government.

Reuters contributed to this report.