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Canada’s foreign minister: Ukraine’s sides in conflict should show restraint

OTTAWA, February 19, (ITAR-TASS) - Ukraine’s all sides in the crisis situation should show restraint, Canada’s Foreign Minister John Baird said.

Baird issued a statement condemning the renewed violence on Tuesday, which has reportedly left at least nine people dead.

“Canada calls on all sides to show restraint and to cease all acts of violence immediately. No act of violence or repression today will go unnoticed by the Government of Canada, and we will work with our allies in the international community to ensure that those responsible will be held to account,” Baird said in a statement released just as news of the reported embassy attack was breaking.

Baird said Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovich had a “solemn responsibility to protect the fundamental right to peaceful assembly.”

Commenting on Ukraine’s Interior Ministry’s statement some unidentified persons had attacked Canada’s embassy in Kiev, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird's office says they are peaceful and have not caused any damage or harm to staff.

Canadian embassy workers are safe and accounted for, spokesman Adam Hodge said.

"We hope that the situation improves quickly so that they can safely leave the embassy premises at the earliest possible opportunity," Hodge said in an email.

"We expect these individuals to be able to leave the embassy safely, free from intimidation, arrest or further harassment.

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