Brussels, 19/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - The spokesperson for the EU high representative for foreign affairs said that Catherine Ashton was “deeply concerned” about the clashes that took place between demonstrators and police on 16 December in the Zhanaozen district of Kazakhstan, where reportedly ten people have died and several others have been injured. The clashes took place after workers sacked from an oil company demonstrated. On 17 December, Ashton said that she “hopes that the authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan will immediately investigate the events and that there will be a peaceful solution found to the problems faced by the striking oil workers, through social dialogue”. (CG/transl.fl)