Kiev, Jan 29 (IANS): mid continuing anti-government protests, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his cabinet stepped down from their posts Tuesday and President Viktor Yanukovych accepted their resignations, BBC reported.

Azarov, 66, tendered his resignation as parliament met for an emergency session to work out a deal which could satisfy the opposition and bring an end to months-long street protests in the capital city and in other cities as well.

The prime minister had offered to step down as prime minister to create "social and political compromise".

"To create additional opportunities for social and political compromise and for a peaceful solution to the conflict," said Azarov in his resignation statement adding: "I made a personal decision to ask the president of Ukraine to accept my resignation as prime minister of Ukraine."

The government had "done everything to ensure the peaceful resolution of the conflict" and would do "everything possible to prevent bloodshed, an escalation of violence and violation of citizens' rights", he further said.