Ukraine's Parliament Votes Yanukovych Out of Power as Tymoshenko is Freed

Lviv police stand on stage in Kiev

Protesting crowds turned to cheering in Kiev and other cities in Ukraine as the country's parliament voted President Viktor Yanukovych out of power.

Hours before, Yanukovych fled Kiev, to Kharkiv, as police from Lviv marched into Kiev towards the presidential palace.

The Lviv police, one of three regions which had declared autonomy from Yanukovych's government, were cheered by the protesters who had spent months clashing with Kiev's police force.

Brand new Interior Minister, Ostap Kryvdyk, declared that all of Ukraine's police were with the people and ordered all riot police to stand down.

Parliament also voted to set new elections for May 25. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who had been imprisoned by Yanukovych for two and a half years, has announced she will be running for president, in the election.

Once safe Kharkiv, Yanukovych denounced his removal, calling it a "Nazi coup", and asked for volunteer militias to form and protect the country and his government. Most of the leaders of his party, especially those who held positions in his government, have announced their resignations and fled Kiev as well, some even seeking refuge in Russia.

Now worries are that the eastern part of Ukraine may unite behind Yanukovych and refuse to recognize another government. This could lead to either a continued conflict or possibly the split of the country.

Russia joined Yaukovych in calling his removal a coup. However, EU delegates, who had been mediating the peace talks, stated that no coup had taken place.