Brussels, 19/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday 18 December, the EU high representative for foreign affairs urged “all parties to exercise calm and restraint” and strongly condemned “the use of violence against peaceful demonstrators”. On Sunday evening, clashes continued between military forces and demonstrators for the third day in a row, which left around ten dead and hundreds injured. Catherine Ashton stated that “law and order must be ensured in a manner respectful of human rights” and stressed that she was “extremely concerned at the violent clashes”. She pointed out that “security forces must protect the right of all citizens to peaceful demonstration, and to the freedom of assembly and expression” and declared that “the governing authorities should take immediate action” to stop the clashes, to swiftly launch an independent investigation and to bring those responsible for violence to justice. (CG/trans/fl)