UN: Latest Round Of Middle East Violence Deplored

Annan Strongly Deplores Latest Round Of Middle East Violence

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today strongly deplored the latest round of violence over the weekend in the Middle East.

Reacting to Israeli military raids yesterday in a densely populated area of the Gaza Strip, which left at least 14 Palestinians killed - including several children - and dozens wounded, the Secretary-General, through his spokesman, http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=807 called on the Government of Israel "to abide by its obligation under international humanitarian law to avoid civilian casualties and to desist from the use of disproportionate force in densely populated areas."

The spokesman's statement also strongly deplored "the reckless action" by Palestinian extremists on Saturday at Erez checkpoint, where hundreds of Palestinians and UN and other international staff regularly cross to and from Israel, which resulted in the deaths of two Palestinian security officers.

It was the third attack at Erez since the beginning of the year.

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