Canada Embassy in Kiev Shut Down, Barack Obama Warns Ukraine Govt. to Keep Military Out of Political Unrest
Canada closed the Kiev Embassy while it threatened Ukraine that sanctions could be brought in against it. All this took place after authorities had killed over two dozen in order to control public protests against the government.
Globe and Mail reported that there was one voice message available at the Canadian Embassy as well as in its Web site. The message indicated that the embassy had been shut down. The message, on the other hand, does not specify the exact time when the closure took place.
The message said that the Embassy of Canada in Kiev had been closed for security concerns "until further notice". In addition, it also informed that the embassy would, however, continue to deliver consular services. According to the message, Canadians in Ukraine are asked to contact the department in case they require any help.
Meanwhile, hundreds gathered in Canada on Tuesday night as they asked for a non-violent solution to the Ukraine crisis. The Toronto crowd requested for peace while the number of people dying due to clashes between protesters and police in Ukraine continued to rise. It was a gathering by Canadian Ukrainians who came together on Lakeshore Boulevard West.
CBC News reported that people dressed themselves in Ukrainian flags while they sang songs, recited prayers and held candles. The Ukrainian community in Toronto expressed their concern regarding the on-going violence while the Ukraine government continued to try and control the public protest in the national capital.
The New York Times reported that the U.S. administration earlier declared that 20 top officials from Ukraine had been put on the visa blacklist.
The U.S. President Barack Obama further threatened that the national military in Ukraine should stay out of the political violence. Mr. Obama said that United States had been carefully observing what was going on in Ukraine. He said that the Ukraine government was expected to display restraint and refrain from resorting to violence.