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UN 'shock' at peacekeeper deaths
The UN Security Council released a statement failing to condemn Israel over Tuesday's attack on a UN observer post in Lebanon in which four peacekeepers died.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:00 July 28, 2006
Washington: The UN Security Council released a statement failing to condemn Israel over Tuesday's attack on a UN observer post in Lebanon in which four peacekeepers died.
The statement, agreed upon by all 15 members, expressed shock and distress over the attack but was "watered down" to eliminate any hint of condemnation.
"The security council is deeply shocked and distressed by the firing by the Israeli Defense Forces on a United Nations observer post in southern Lebanon on July 25," said the statement.
The council expressed concern about the safety and security of UN personnel and stressed that Israel and "all concerned parties" must comply with international humanitarian law, which includes protecting UN personnel.
The statement stressed "the importance of ensuring that UN personnel are not the object of attack."
China's UN ambassador Wang Guangya complained that the final version was "watered down" and said that "any killing of innocent life has to be condemned."
"I did not expect the consultations on such an important issue, on which there are many common points among council members, would take such a long time," Wang told reporters.
"So I think the frustration is there and this frustration will definitely affect working relations somewhat", including on efforts to pass a UN Security Council resolution on Iran's nuclear programme.
Wang had warned earlier that there would be a "negative impact" on the Security Council's work.
China - who proposed the statement - echoed Secretary-General Kofi Annan in their initial draft saying that the council was shocked and distressed at Israel's "apparently deliberate targeting" of the UN base.
China also condemned "this coordinated artillery and aerial attack on a long-established and clearly marked UN post."
Israel has strongly denied Annan's statement made late on Tuesday that Israel appeared to have struck the site deliberately.
Israel's UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman called the final statement "very fair and balanced" but expressed "deep regret for the tragic accident," and repeated his dismay at Annan's statement, and stressed that Israel "would never, ever target UN personnel," adding: "War is an ugly thing and during war mistakes and
tragedies do happen."
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