Russia on Friday warned of taking "practical reactions" against neighboring Estonia, after the Baltic state dismantled a Red Army soldier's statue.
"The Russian side is planning a practical reaction against Estonia over the pulling down of the Soldier Liberator monument," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said.
The Soviet-era war memorial, formerly situated in Tynismyagi square in the Estonian capital Tallinn, was pulled down overnight. Rioting by angered citizens overwhelmed Tallinn, Baltic News Service reported on Friday.
One man died in hospital with 57 others injured in clashes with police, while close to 60 protesters were detained.
The dead man was named by police as a 20-year-old named Dimitri, who died from stab wounds.
The removal comes as part of a government-sanctioned plan to exhume and relocate the remains of Soviet soldiers buried in Estonia. However, it has been widely criticized by protestors as disrespecting fallen World War II heroes.
Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, urged for a cessation of diplomatic ties with Estonia on Friday.
Estonia, taken aback at the weight of opposition, suspended plans to relocated the bodies of Soviet soldiers.
"Government plans related to the fraternal grave and the monument commemorating the fallen soldiers need to be revised," the Interfax news agency quoted Estonian Defense Minister Jaak Aaviksoo as saying.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made clear his dismay at the violence on Friday. His spokesperson issued a statement which said Ban "regretted the violence and the loss of life" in Tallinn, and "appealed to all concerned to deal with the issues in a respectful and conciliatory manner."
(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2007)
