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Romanian president urges ministers to explain death of police motorcyclist

Associated Press
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People clench their fists during a protest demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. Romania’s president has called on the prime minister and interior minister to address public anger over the death of a police motorcyclist who died during a traffic mission after hitting a large hole in the road while escorting Interior Minister Oprea.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

A woman holds a banner that bearing the name of a police motorcyclist during a protest demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. Romania’s president has called on the prime minister and interior minister to address public anger over the death of a police motorcyclist who died during a traffic mission after hitting a large hole in the road while escorting Interior Minister Oprea.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

A police motorcyclist escorts demonstrators during a protest demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. Romania’s president has called on the prime minister and interior minister to address public anger over the death of a police motorcyclist who died during a traffic mission after hitting a large hole in the road while escorting Interior Minister Oprea.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (The Associated Press)

Romania's president has called on the prime minister and interior minister to address public anger over the death of a police motorcyclist who died during a traffic mission.

The interior ministry said Sunday that, pending an investigation, it would not comment on the death of Bogdan Gigina after he drove his motorbike into a hole on Oct. 20. He was in a motorcade easing a route in Bucharest for Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea.

Hundreds have protested on social media in recent days. Late Saturday, some 300 motorcyclists drove through Bucharest in solidarity with Gigina's family.

President Klaus Iohannis called on Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Oprea to publicly address the situation.

Ponta on Saturday criticized opposition politicians and journalists for speculating about a tragedy for political reasons.