US blocks ceasefire call

2009-01-04 07:19

New York - The United States late on Saturday blocked approval of a UN Security Council statement calling for an immediate Israeli-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza and southern Israel and expressing serious concern at the escalation of violence.

US deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the United States saw no prospect of Hamas abiding by last week's council call for an immediate end to the violence.

Therefore, he said, a new statement at this time "would not be adhered to and would have no underpinning for success, would not do credit to the council".

France's UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, the current council president, announced that there was no agreement on a statement though he said there were "strong convergences" among the 15 members to express serious concern about the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the need for "an immediate, permanent and fully respected ceasefire".

Arab nations demanded that the council adopt a presidential statement calling for an immediate ceasefire following Israel's launch of a ground offensive in Gaza earlier on Saturday - a view echoed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Libya's UN Ambassador Giadalla Ettalhi, the only Arab member of the council, said that during the closed council discussions on the proposed presidential statement, the United States said it objected to "any outcome".

He said efforts were made to compromise and agree on a weaker press statement, but "unfortunately" there was no consensus.

- AP