"German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed alarm at the detention of activists intending to protest against the Russian government. "

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned Russia that any action taken against an individual EU state would be considered action against the whole bloc.

"It is very important if you want to have close co-operation to understand that the EU is based on principles of solidarity," he said.



BBC NEWS | Europe | EU-Russian talks end in acrimony