EU Calls for Independent Investigation into Odessa Deaths

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton demanded an independent probe to establish those responsible for the violence that left over forty dead on Friday in Odessa, Ukraine.

On Friday, clashes between pro- and anti- government protesters in Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odessa killed at least 42 people and left over 125 injured.

Most of the deaths occurred as a result of a deadly blaze in a besieged trade union building.

The people were reported to have choked to death on smoke or died when jumping out of the windows of the burning building.

The High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the European Union said in a statement on Saturday that the cause of the tragic loss of human lives had to be identified by an independent investigation, adding that those responsible had to be brought to justice.

She called for "restraint" in order to prevent a further deterioration of the situation.

Ashton, as cited by Deutsche Welle, insisted that the events in Odessa were not to be exploited "to fuel more hatred, division and senseless violence."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the violent clashes in Odessa in a Saturday statement.

He also demanded a swift and conclusive probe into the tragic incident.

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