UN chief regrets fatal violence over statue removal in Estonia

    UNITED NATIONS, April 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed dismay on Friday at the fatal violence in the Estonian capital resulting from a dispute over the removal of a Soviet-era war memorial.

    In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban said he "regrets the violence and the loss of life" in Tallinn, and "appeals to all concerned with the issues at hand in a spirit of respect and conciliation."  Full story

Former German chancellor condemns war memorial removal in Estonia

    BERLIN, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder condemned on Friday the removal of a Russian war memorial in Estonia.

    He told a meeting of trade union officials in Riedenberg, southern Germany, that the move was an insult to the memory of those who fought fascism. Full story

One dies in clashes following Estonia's removal of Soviet war monument

    RIGA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Estonia's removal of a Soviet war monument late Thursday stirred up overnight riots in the country's capital Tallinn, Baltic News Service reported on Friday.

    One man died after being taken to hospital and 57 were injured in clashes between protesters and police. Nearly 60 protesters were detained, the news agency reported. Full story

Russian-speaking protestors shout in front of a police line during a protest against the removal of a bronze statue of a Red Army Soviet soldier in Tallinn April 27, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

A policeman walks past flowers lying where a bronze statue of a Red Army Soviet soldier used to stand in downtown Tallinn April 27, 2007. Estonia took away the controversial statue from the centre of the capital early on Friday after violent riots against its removal in which one man was killed.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>