Reports say that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has fled the country's capital, Kiev, just a day after striking a peace deal with protesters to end the violence.

Opposition forces stormed and took control over the president's office, aided by police who now sided with the protesters. With the protesters now effectively in control of the city, opposition leader Vitali Klitschko called on parliament to elect to relieve the president of his duties and establish new elections in May.

"Unfortunately, President Yanukovych, who did not hear the people, has withdrawn from his constitutional duties himself," said Klitschko. "And today he has already left the capital. Millions of citizens see only one option in the current situation -- it is calling the early presidential election."

CNN reports that an anonymous U.S. State Department official confirmed that the president had gone to Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city. Yanukovych has strong support in the East, due partly to the large population of ethnic Russians in the area. Yanukovych's loyalty to Russia and his decision to decline joining the European Union helped spark the massive protests that have raged in Ukraine over the last week.

Progress was made yesterday when a peace deal was formed, granting many of the protesters' demands including a return to a 2004 constitution that would curb the president of many of his powers. An earlier election was scheduled for this December. There was also a vote made to release former Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, a political rival of Yanukovych who was imprisoned on what many believe to be false charges.

Protesters were dissatisfied with the deal, however, demanding an immediate resignation from the president. The anger at Kiev's Independence Square was apparent, with many chanting "Death to the Criminal", referencing the president's role in the deaths of over seventy protesters who were killed in a recent clash that had government snipers shooting into the crowd.

It is unconfirmed whether or not President Yanukovych will now resign, but some reports indicate that he has no intention of stepping down yet. The Wall Street Journal reports that the president plans to meet with legislators in Kharkiv, and possibly make a television appearance.

The world continues to keep an eye on Ukraine, hoping that the current conflict does not escalate to an all-out civil war.