Ukraine's Parliament Appoints Opposition Leader Acting PM

During an emergency session of parliament on Saturday, 314 out of 450 lawmakers voted to elect opposition leader Oleksandr Turchynov as Ukraine's acting prime minister.

In another sign of how the nation is changing power, parliament has appointed Arsen Avakov as Ukraine's acting interior minister.

Avakov will replace Vitaly Zakharchenko who was blamed for ordering police to open fire on protesters, DW reports.

During the meeting, lawmakers voted to speed up the release of opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko from prison. Avakov is known to be a strong ally of the imprisoned Tymoshenko.

Meanwhile, President Yanukovych whereabouts remain unknown after the president's office has confirmed he is visiting the city of Kharkiv.

According to media reports, the president's residence outside the capital was empty and unguarded and journalists were entering freely.