The White House expressed outrage Thursday at the news that Ukrainian security forces were firing automatic weapons on anti-government protesters in clashes that left at least 22 people dead.
“We urge President Yanukovych to immediately withdraw his security forces from downtown Kyiv and to respect the right of peaceful protest, and we urge protesters to express themselves peacefully,” Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement. “We urge the Ukrainian military not to get involved in a conflict that can and should be resolved by political means. The use of force will not resolve the crisis — clear steps must be taken to stop the violence and initiate meaningful dialogue that reduces tension and addresses the grievances of the Ukrainian people.”
