GENEVA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The UN rights agency on Friday said it is appalled at the ongoing violence in Nicaragua where this week at least 16 people are reported to have been killed and more than 100 injured amid anti-government protests.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) told a press briefing here that it is deeply worrying for those reports that many of those killed were shot by police and armed pro-government groups.
According to OHCHR, the majority of the deaths are reported to have happened on Wednesday, which was Mother's Day in Nicaragua, when thousands of people took part in marches in the capital, Managua, and numerous towns across the country in support of mothers whose children had been killed during the demonstrations and to protest against the government.
Since the protests began on April 18, OHCHR said, at least 100 people have been killed and some 1,000 injured.
"We welcome the government's announcement that it will accept an investigation into the deaths during the protests by a group of independent experts. However, the government's failure to comply with its international obligations in protecting peaceful protesters from violence and ensuring accountability for the unlawful use of force, is deeply regrettable," OHCHR said in a statement.
The UN agency urged the Nicaraguan authorities to carry out effective, prompt, independent, impartial and transparent investigations into all allegations of serious human rights violations that have occurred in the last few weeks.
