Annan decries civilian deaths in Lebanon, urges parties to talk
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, Aug 10, IRNA
UN-Lebanon-Annan
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Wednesday spoke out against the killing of civilians in Israeli-Palestinian conflict, noting that Israeli attacks have caused hundreds of deaths, and called for the parties to resume dialogue.
"The secretary-general is greatly concerned that the tragic events in Lebanon and northern Israel should not distract from the urgent need to work towards a solution to the current crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory," a spokesman for Annan said in a statement at UN Headquarters in New York.
"The continued killing and injuring of hundreds of civilians, including children, in Gaza, by Israeli forces is utterly
unjustifiable," Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York.
He voiced particular concern about the arbitrary arrest of many senior Palestinians, including the speaker of the Palestinian Council, Aziz Dweik, saying this further undermines the Palestinian institutions which must be preserved if a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is to be achieved.
The statement also reiterated Dujarric's long-standing call for a cessation of the rocket attacks from Gaza, which he noted have indiscriminately targeted Israeli civilians, a press release issued by the UN Information Center (UNIC) said here on Thursday.
"He calls on the parties to resume dialogue without delay, and welcomes the continued efforts by the government of Egypt to help bring this about," Dujarric said.
"Above all he believes these tragic events in the occupied Palestinian territory, Israel and Lebanon, show how urgent it is that a comprehensive peace process be revived as soon as possible."
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