Dozens Killed In Odessa Fire Amid Clashes
The deaths came as Pro Russian protestars clashed with Ukrainian government supporters in the city , officails said some people were overwhelmed by smoke and others died after tthey jumped from the building
Earlier President Oleksandr Turchynov said many separatists had been killed in a government offencive in Sloviansk
Activists have seized scores of government buildings and detained observers in Eastern Ukraine , the fire broke out in Odessa's Trade Union House , the regional office of Ukraines interior ministry said , but gave no details on how the blaze started , reports suggest that the separatists had barricaded themselves inside the building and both sides were throwing petrol bombs the interior ministry gave a toll of at least 31 dead , revised down from an earlier tally of 38
Ukrainian deputy foreign minister Danylo Lubkivsky told reporters he regretted the loss of life but insisted Russia was behind the violence
"The situation remains under control , but the security situation is threatened by Russian special agents" he said
"That's why we are requesting and demanding Russian authorities to stop their efforts that can undermine regional security and stability"
Russia's foreign ministry said Moscow was "outraged" by events in Odessa and denounced Kiev's "irresponsibility"
The U.S. called "the violence and mayhem that led to so many senseless deaths and injuries is unacceptable" the state department said in a statement
Earlier four people were killed in clashes between the Pro Russian and Pro Kiev protesters in the city , the first such erruption of violence in the South after weeks of mounting unrest in Ukraine's East it followed a rally by Ukrainian football fans
The death toll in Odessa is the highest since violence broke out between Pro E.U. protesters and police in the capital in February
Meanwhile , the latest reports from rebel controlled Sloviansk in the East say intense gunfire had broken out in the center of the city
During the day , government forces took over Pro Russian checkpoints outside the city , separatists shot down two Ukrainian army helicopters , killing a pilot and another serviceman
The West continues to accuse Moscow of provoking the unrest in Eastern Ukraine , something Russia denies
U.S. President Barack Obama at a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the WhiteHouse , warned of further sanctions against Russia if it did not "change course" he said the idea that the unrest was caused by a "spontaneous uprising" was "belled" by the miliitants use of missiles
The U.N. security council met earlier on Friday for an emergency session at Russia's request
Moscow's ambassador warned of "catastrophic consequences" if Kiev's military operatiiins in Eastern Ukraine continued , while the U.S. called it "proportionate and reasonable