Germany urges end to violence in Ukraine

(BERLIN) - Germany's foreign minister urged an end to the deadly violence in Ukraine Tuesday, speaking after a phone call with his counterpart in Kiev.

"I urgently call on the parties to the conflict in Ukraine to... seek a political solution through talks," said Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

"A return to violence in Ukraine is certainly not a way to reach a settlement and a good future for the country," he said after a phone call with Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara.

At least five protesters were killed and around 150 wounded, some seriously, in fresh clashes with police in Kiev on Tuesday, opposition medics said.

Steinmeier praised recent Ukraine mediation efforts by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and said they should continue.

Ukraine plunged into turmoil after President Viktor Yanukovych refused in November to sign a landmark political and trade deal with the European Union and turned instead to the country's former master Russia, infuriating pro-EU Ukrainians.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday met two Ukraine opposition leaders, the world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a pro-EU former foreign minister.