REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NEW YORK -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged Ukrainian authorities to "desist from the use of excessive force" after fierce clashes with anti-government protesters left at least 26 people dead.

A crackdown by security forces on Tuesday triggered a storm of international condemnation, in Ukraine's worst crisis since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Ban was following developments in Ukraine "with increasing alarm," his spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement.

"He urges an immediate end to the violence in the strongest terms and again stresses that resorting to such measures by any side is totally unacceptable.

"The secretary-general equally urges the government to desist from the use of excessive force, underscoring the need for the authorities to abide by international human rights norms."

Ban called for dialogue between the Ukrainian government and demonstrators, who hit the streets in November after President Viktor Yanukovych rejected an EU pact in favour of closer ties with former master Moscow.

"He appeals to the Ukrainian authorities to act decisively in brokering a peaceful end to the crisis in a way that is in keeping with the demands and the aspirations of the Ukrainian people," the statement added.

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