KIEV, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 36 law enforcement officers were injured in clashes with activists in Ukraine's southern Black Sea resort city of Odessa, the National Police said on Wednesday.
The clashes erupted on Wednesday during protests outside the Odessa city hall, in which about 500 activists demanded the punishment for those responsible for the death of children in a fire at a local holiday camp.
Twenty policemen and 16 members of the National Guard were injured in the clashes, the National Police said in a statement.
According to the authorities, several dozens of activists tried to enter the city hall building where they met resistance from the law enforcement officers.
Local media reported that several activists also suffered minor injuries in the clashes.
A blaze broke out on Saturday night at Viktoria municipal camp in Odessa, killing three children and injuring two others.
A total of 42 children were at the building of the camp, when the fire erupted.
The blaze has sparked a series of protests against local authorities, with demonstrators claiming that the fire was a result of negligence and corruption in Odessa governing bodies.
According to the protesters, the camp was not equipped with the proper fire alarm system, funds for which were allocated from the municipal budget.
Besides, there was not enough water to extinguish the fire in the camp's water reservoir.
Police have opened a criminal case into the fire. The director of the camp had been arrested.
