Vitali Klitschko lends a hand to help clear up the barricades - PHOTO

Mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, helped clear up the barricades in the city’s riot-torn Independence Square as rebels in the east declare that they are open to a cease-fire.

The former world heavyweight champion stepped in to remove tyres, along with thousands of residents, after violence erupted in the Ukranian capital as protestors clashed with police and volunteers.Officials had stepped in to remove the barricades which had remained in the central square, known as Maidan, since President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February.Hundreds of activists living in tents on a main city street erected the barricades to protect the expanding campsite after starting protests in a bid to topple the government earlier this year.Since former president Viktor Yanukovych fled in February the camp’s size has dwindled leaving a team of volunteers, backed up by municipal workers with bulldozers, to demolish the remaining tents.They were today joined by Klitschko, who was one of the leaders of the protests against Yanukovych, to clear up the nearby Khreshchatyk Street for traffic.He was seen throwing tyres and rubbish in the back of a truck while the remaining protestors continued to clash with volunteers.(dailymail.co.uk)Bakudaily.az