Barrage of eggs as Ukraine protesters fight Russian ties

They agreed to extend the Russian Black Sea Fleet's lease at a Crimean port for another 25 years, angering those who want to distance themselves from Moscow's influence.

Opponents threw eggs at parliament speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn as he

opened the session and he spent much of the rest of it shielded by an umbrella held by an aide. The agreement, reached last week by the two country's presidents in a clear sign of Russia's renewed influence in Ukraine, extends the fleet's lease by 25 years after the old lease expires in 2017.

Former President Viktor Yushchenko tried hard to move Ukraine out of Moscow's shadow and closer to Western Europe during his five years in office.

But his successor, Viktor Yanukovych, who took office in February, is more favourably inclined toward the Kremlin.

The extension outraged Ukrainian nationalists who regard the fleet's presence as tantamount to Russian occupation.

The extension passed with 236 votes in the 450-member parliament.

In return for the lease extension, Russia agreed to significant discounts on natural gas exports to Ukraine.