UN council meets on Israeli air strike on Syria

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, October 06, 2003

UN council meets on Israeli air strike on Syria

The United Nations Security Council started Sunday a public meeting to discuss Israel's air strike on an alleged Palestinian training camp in Syria.

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The United Nations Security Council started Sunday a public meeting to discuss Israel's air strike on an alleged Palestinian training camp in Syria.

The open debate was called after the 15-member council met behind closed doors at the request of the Syrian government.

In letters to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Security Council President John Negroponte of the United States, Syria called for condemnation of the air strike.

Israeli warplanes struck a Palestinian camp near the Syrian capital of Damascus, wounding two people.

Israel said the camp was a training base for the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, which claimed responsibility for Saturday's suicide bombing in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. Syria has denied Israel's allegation.

In a statement issued earlier through his spokesman, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan strongly deplored the air strike and urged all parties concerned to exercise restraint.

"This further escalation of an already tense and difficult situation has the potential to broaden the scope of current conflicts in the Middle East, further threatening regional peace and security," the statement warned.

"The secretary general urges all concerned to respect the rules of international law and to exercise restraint," it noted.

Syria demands UN council condemnation of Israeli attack

Syria demanded Sunday that the United Nations Security Council strongly condemn Israel's air strike on an alleged Palestinian training camp near the Syrian capital of Damascus. The demand has gained support from many council members.

The 15-nation council started an emergency public meeting following closed-door consultations at the request of the Syrian government. Also attending the open debate were representatives from Palestine and 12 other non-council members.

The Israeli delegation left the meeting to observe the Jewish holy holiday of Yom Kippur which began at sundown on Sunday.

Syria, an elected member of the council, has presented a draft resolution to the council, claiming that the Israeli attack is "inviolation of the Charter of the United Nations, the rules and principles of international law, and relevant Security Council resolutions."

The draft "demands Israel desist from any such acts or threats which might lead to a dangerous deterioration that threatens regional and international peace and security." It also requests UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to report on the compliance of theproposed measure.

Early Sunday, Israeli warplanes struck a Palestinian camp north of Damascus, wounding two people. Israel said the camp was a training base for the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, which claimed responsibility for Saturday's suicide bombing in thenorthern Israeli city of Haifa. The bombing killed 19 people and wounded some 50 others.

Syria has denied Israel's allegation, saying the stricken area is a civilian site.

At the open debate, many council members, including China, Pakistan and Britain, have voiced their denounciations against the Israeli air strike.

In his address, Chinese Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya strongly condemned both the Israeli raid in Syria and the Haifa suicide bombing. He called the Israeli act as a violation of international norms and warned of "negative" impact on the regional peace process.

French Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere also labeled the airstrike as "an unacceptable violation of the international law."

Pakistani Ambassador Munir Akram urged the council "to speedilyadopt the decision to condemn this military aggression and to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic."

US Ambassador John Negroponte shirked direct criticism of Israel. He urged all sides "to avoid heightening tensions and to think carefully about the consequences of their actions."

In a statement issued earlier through his spokesman, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan strongly deplored the air strike and warned of an expansion of the conflict in the Middle East.

"This further escalation of an already tense and difficult situation has the potential to broaden the scope of current conflicts in the Middle East, further threatening regional peace and security," the statement warned.

"The secretary general urges all concerned to respect the rulesof international law and to exercise restraint," it noted.

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