At least 100,000 Ukrainians celebrate New Year by singing national anthem

KIEV, Ukraine – At least 100,000 Ukrainians sang the country's national anthem on Kiev's main square New Year's Eve in a sign of support for integration with Europe.

Kiev's Maidan has been the scene of massive pro-European protests for more than a month, triggered by President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to ditch a key deal with the European Union.

Opposition leaders had called on Ukrainians to come to the Maidan on the New Year's Eve and sign the anthem as a sign of defiance and what they expected could be the record-breaking live singing of an anthem.

Tens of thousands of people thronged to Maidan and nearby streets and sang "Ukraine Has Not Died Yet" seconds after the New Year's countdown.

Pro-European activists have been living in tents on Kiev's barricaded main square since November.