Anti-government protesters huddle in solidarity as the frigid temperature dips even lower.<br/> <br />While Ukraine's political crisis continues, President Viktor Yanukovich takes sick leave to recover from an acute respiratory illness.<br/> <br />Protesters react to the news with scorn:<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN CITIZEN, TAMARA, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I think he's sick of what's happening in the country, and he definitely needs a day off to think about that, Maybe he sees his psychoanalytic specialist, I'm not really sure... You can't really take a day off even if you are the president when such things are happening here."<br/> <br />A bill passed late Wednesday granting a conditional amnesty for activists who had been detained.<br/> <br />Justice Minister Olena Lukash said Yanukovich threatened deputies with early elections if they did not vote in favor of the amnesty:<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN JUSTICE MINISTER, OLENA LUKASH, SAYING:<br/> <br />"The president of the country raised a questio
