Ukraine’s protest leaders, known as the Maidan Council, have announced the names of the new national unity government following the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych.

They addressed crowds who had gathered in Kyiv’s Independence Square, which has been at the heart of three months of protests.

The former Economy Minister and one of the opposition leaders, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, has been named as prime minister

Amongst the other ministers, activist Dmyto Bulatov, who was kidnapped and tortured, is to be the next minister of sport. Stepan Kubiv, formerly head of the Maidan headquarters at the Trade Unions Building, will be the head of National Bank.

The candidates must be officially approved by parliament on Thursday morning.

Acting president, Oleksander Turchinov, told the crowds the new government would have to take unpopular decisions and would not continue in power after the presidential elections in May.