KIEV:

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich flew to China yesterday with his government facing uproar in parliament and turmoil on the streets over a decision to spurn closer ties with the EU under pressure from Russia.

International markets drove up the cost of insuring Ukraine's mounting debt against default and threatened a financial crisis.

Riot police faced off several thousand pro-EU protesters in Kiev, while opposition leaders shouted down Prime Minister Mykola Azarov during a fiery debate.