Hundreds of protesters have clashed with riot police in central Kiev and Ukraine's parliament speaker offered to resign amid uproar after a move to boost the status of the Russian language in the former Soviet republic.

Riot police on Wednesday fired tear gas and used batons to push back protesters, led by opposition members of parliament, who had massed in front of a building where President Viktor Yanukovich was due to hold a press briefing.

Rory Challands reports.