U.N. Sounds Alarm On Human Rights In East

It also found "serious problems" of harassment and persecution of ethnic Tartars in Crimea , the mainly ethnic Russian region Moscow annexed in March , Russia condemned the report , saying it ignored abuses by Ukraine's government

Meanwhile , a third party initiative to restore Law and order in one troubled  city , Mariupol , seems to be succeeding

Violence between separatists and Pro Ukrainian forces has left dozens dead in the East and South this month , separatists control towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions , where they have been skirmishing with units of tje Ukrainian security forces , sent in to reassert government control

The revolt in the East gained momentum after Russia annexed Ukraine's mainly ethnic Russian region of Crimea in March

Moscow acted after the overthrowing of Ukraine's elected Pro Russian President Viktor Yanukovych , during unrest in the capital Kiev in February and his replacement with an interim government , backed by Ukrainian nationalists , a new President is due to be elected on May 25th

In another development , former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt has accused E.U.  officials of risking war with Russia by displaying "megalomania" in Ukraine

Mr. Schmidt , Chancellor from 1974 to 1982 , told German newspaper Bild "the danger that the situation gets ever more tense , as it did in August 1914 , is growing day by day"

The U.N.'s conclusions are contained in a 37 page report , it's second monthly assessment of the situation , "Those with influence on the armed groups responsible for much of the violence in Eastern Ukraine (must) do their utmost to rein in these men who seem bent on tearing the country apart" said the U.N. Human Rights Chief Navi Pilley in Geneva

The U.N.'s report details growing laelessness in Eastern and Southern Ukraine , peaceful demonstrations , primarily by supporters of Ukraine's unity deteriorate into violence , protesters are attacked and beaten , local police do nothing to prevent the violence and sometimes openly co operate with the attackers

U.N. monitors have also documented cases of targeted killings , torture and abduction , primarily carried out by anti government forces in Eastern Ukraine , the report highlights threats to journalists and international observers , and abductions or attacks on some

In it's response , Russia's foreign minister said the report lacked any semblance of objectivity , and accused it's authors of following "political orders" to whitewash Ukraine's new , Western Leaders

The report , it said in a statement in Russian , ignored "the crudest violations of human rights by the self proclaimed Kiev authorities"

Separatists in Donetsk announced on Thursday they were setting up their own parliament and were planning to open the border with Russia shortly

Steelworkers in the flashpoint port of Maruipol  have begun citizen patrols after talks between officials from their company Metinvest , whis is owned by oligarch Rinat Akhmetov , and local police and community leaders

Metinvest employees could be seen on Friday removing Barricades in the city , there are conflicting reports as to whether separatists in the city are backing the initative too

Mr. Akhmetov , Ukraine's richest man , was the main financial backer of deposed President Yanukovych and remains a powerful figure , has called for the East to remain inside a "United Ukraine"