An opposition protest has prevented the Ukrainian parliament from meeting and forced the government to amend its plans to join NATO.

Admission to the chamber was blocked when about 24 members of the Regions party and their Communist allies gathered around the speaker's seat and placed chairs at all the entrances, EuroNews's website reported.

Only last week, Kiev had asked NATO to grant it a "Membership Action Plan" which would have been the first stage of the long-term adhesion process.

However, polls suggest the country is sharply divided over the issue.

Volodymyr Polokhalo, an MP from the ruling bloc, believes "there were clearly some foreign powers involved in the anti-NATO protest".

Meanwhile, outside the parliament, hundreds more were holding protests against moves to join the alliance.

NATO ambassadors will study Ukraine's request before meeting in Romania in April, but some insiders say the action plan is unlikely to be approved at that summit.

SM/HAR