Ukrainian Protesters Leave Ministry of Justice After Warning

Justice minister threatened to call for state of emergency

Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) — Protesters who seized the Ukrainian Justice Ministry left the building Monday, after a minister warned she would call for a state of emergency as the country's political crisis deepened.

However, demonstrators remained outside the ministry, where a sign and front window were smashed, creating a blockade.

As the Eastern European country's political crisis escalates after weeks of demonstrations that led to clashes, Oleksandr Danylyuk, the leader of one of the protest factions, said the retreat was done in order not to create difficulties in negotiations between the government and opposition.