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KYIV, Ukraine – An embattled Ukrainian government Monday threatened to impose a state of emergency in the east European country after protesters occupied a ministry building as unrest spread to other areas, suggesting President Viktor Yanukovych may be losing his grip.

The anti-government protesters laid a siege in President Viktor Yanukovych’s electoral heartlands in the country’s east came ahead of an emergency session of parliament Tuesday that is expected to show whether the president still commands the support of pro-government deputies.

Media reports said protesters have taken over regional government head quarters in at least 10 provinces since last Thursday, when people in the Western city of Lviv stormed and occupied the regional administration there.

Justice Minister Olena Lukash warned the protesters occupying her ministry that she will call for a state of emergency if they do not leave.

In a televised statement, Lukash said she would ask the National Security and Defense Council to introduce the measure after the anti-government demonstrators seized the building in the capital of Kyiv Sunday night.

State news agency Ukrinform said Lukash has alleged that unknown men smashed windows of the building with bats as they fought their way into the building.

“Female employees saw (them) breaking personal belongings with bats,” she said.

Media reports said protesters entered the justice ministry building in the capital without resistance.

“The seizure of the Ministry of Justice is a symbolic act of the people of the uprising. Now, these authorities are stripped of justice,” one protester told reporters at the protest site.

One of the organisers of the occupation, who gave his name as Oleg, said the building was being used to shelter those enduring freezing conditions in street protests nearby.

He told the Associated Press news agency: “We are not going to do any hooliganism, or have anyone hurt. We are peaceful people, we are for justice.”

CNN said protesters who gathered outside Monday jumped up and down to the sound of a barrel being hit and shouted, “Bandits out”.

Ukrinform quoted Lukash as saying she would ask President Yanukovych to withdraw from talks with opposition leaders if the protesters did not leave her ministry.

If declared, a state of emergency could potentially allow authorities to impose curfews and give them extra powers of detention.

The nation of 45 million people has been battling deep political unrest after weeks of protests by pro-Europe demonstrators that have escalated into deadly clashes.

A state of emergency can only be approved by parliament. Although Yanukovych’s Party of the Regions controls a majority in the chamber, many pro-government deputies are believed to have refused to vote for emergency rule when sounded out by the president’s team last week.