Police: 31 dead in protest-linked Odessa fire

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Police in the Ukrainian city of Odessa say 31 people have died as the result of a building fire that broke out during a clash between pro-Russia demonstrators and supporters of the central government in Kiev.

The statement said the fire broke out in a trade union building on Friday, but did not give details on how it started. An earlier police statement put the death toll at 38; it was not clear why the figure was revised.

Police earlier said at least three people had died in a clash between the two sides.

Until now, Odessa, a key port on Ukraine's southern Black Sea coast, had largely been free of the unrest that is gripping eastern parts of Ukraine in recent weeks.