烏東衝突死亡人數已逾五千

The United Nations human rights agency says the death toll from the conflict in eastern Ukraine has passed 5,000.

聯合國人權事務高級專員辦事處說，烏克蘭東部衝突的死亡人數已超過五千。

Spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters Friday that the death toll could be far higher than the official estimate of 5,086 deaths, based on data collected by U.N. human rights monitors since the beginning of hostilities in April.

辦事處發言人魯帕特•科爾維爾星期五對記者說，死亡人數可能大大超出官方估計的5086人。這個數字是根據聯合國人權監察員去年4月衝突爆發以來統計的數據。

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the Ukrainian government of starting a surge in violence in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists are battling Ukrainian troops to gain territory. Mr. Putin made the claim Friday in a meeting with senior officials.

與此同時，俄羅斯總統普京星期五與高層官員會晤時指責烏克蘭政府在烏克蘭東部造成暴力升級。 當地的親俄分離分子正與烏克蘭政府軍爭奪地盤。

The United Nations says it has counted 262 deaths in the fighting in the past nine days.

聯合國說，據他們統計，過去九天的戰鬥造成262人死亡。

Earlier Friday, a pro-Russian separatist leader said he will not push for new peace talks with the Ukrainian government, vowing instead to gain control of more territory in the east.

另外，烏克蘭東部頓涅斯克的反政府武裝領導人扎哈琴科表示，他不會推動與烏克蘭政府進行新的和談，而是決心在烏克蘭東部攻佔更多的領土。

Russian news agencies quoted rebel chief Alexander Zakharchenko, based in the eastern city of Donetsk, as saying that his forces are launching a new offensive to expand their territory.

俄羅斯媒體星期五引述扎哈琴科的話說，他的部隊正在發動新的攻勢，擴大地盤。

On Thursday in Donetsk, at least 13 people were killed when a trolley bus was hit in an apparent mortar attack, sparking accusations of blame from both sides.

星期四，頓涅斯克一輛公交車被炮彈擊中，導致至少13人喪生。政府和反叛武裝都宣稱對方應對此負責。