U.N. deaths put pressure on Rome talks for ceasefire
By Alistair Lyon, Special Correspondent
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Israel's killing of four U.N. observers piled pressure on an international conference in Rome on Wednesday to end a 15-day-old Middle East conflict, as Hizbollah vowed not to accept any "humiliating" truce terms.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan demanded Israel investigate the "apparently deliberate targeting" of a U.N. post in southern Lebanon where an Israeli air strike killed the four U.N. military observers on Tuesday.
Israel, waging a military offensive in Lebanon against Hizbollah guerrillas, announced it would hold a probe and expressed regret at the deaths but said it was shocked Annan had suggested the observers may have been deliberately targeted.
A Chinese national was among the four observers killed, China's official Xinhua news agency reported. It said the other three were from Finland, Austria and Canada.
U.N. officials said the air strike had caused the building housing the observers to collapse and that rescue teams had been sent to retrieve the bodies from the rubble.
"(This) attack on a long established and clearly marked U.N. post at Khiam occurred despite personal assurances given to me by (Israeli) Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that U.N. positions would be spared Israeli fire," Annan said in a statement.
Al-Asr (103.001-003) By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),
Verily Man is in loss,
Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds,
and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth,
and of Patience and Constancy.
One would be left to ponder on what actually the Israeli's `REAL' intention by killing those UN observer? Btw, this is not the first or the last time that the Israeli's has deliberately killed those from the UN......
Al-Asr (103.001-003) By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),
Verily Man is in loss,
Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds,
and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth,
and of Patience and Constancy.
Israel would say - [S]"So What? What can UN do to us?"[/S]
True.... i would rather called the UN as USELESS NATIONS
Al-Asr (103.001-003) By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),
Verily Man is in loss,
Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds,
and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth,
and of Patience and Constancy.
One would be left to ponder on what actually the Israeli's `REAL' intention by killing those UN observer? Btw, this is not the first or the last time that the Israeli's has deliberately killed those from the UN......
Israel would say - [S]Do we really have to give reason for what we've done to those UN observer? [/S]
Israel would say
[S]Big Brother Uncle Sam surely will protect us..., so who cares....[/S]
Al-Asr (103.001-003) By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),
Verily Man is in loss,
Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds,
and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth,
and of Patience and Constancy.
Anan is an idiot and irresponsible for his comments. Why would Israel purposely attack the UN when public oppinion is on their side? It makes no sense militarily. You guys might think Israel is bloodthirsty but they aren't stupid.
Anan is an idiot and irresponsible for his comments. Why would Israel purposely attack the UN when public oppinion is on their side? It makes no sense militarily. You guys might think Israel is bloodthirsty but they aren't stupid.
they're not stupid....but they think the majority of the world is.
UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon contacted Israeli troops 10 times before an Israeli bomb killed four of them, an initial UN report says.
The post was hit by a precision-guided missile after six hours of shelling, diplomats familiar with the probe say.
UN-led crisis talks in Rome ended with no agreement to urge an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
In the latest fighting, up to 13 Israeli soldiers were reported killed in southern Lebanon on Wednesday.
Israel has not confirmed any deaths from among its soldiers, but says there have been 20 casualties in the clashes around the town of Bint Jbail.
More than 400 Lebanese and 42 Israelis have died in two weeks of conflict, which began after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid on 12 July.
In other developments:
A Jordanian military plane arrived in Beirut to evacuate some of the most seriously wounded Lebanese civilians
Ten lorries loaded with food and medical supplies arrived in the southern town of Tyre from the capital, Beirut
Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah warned on TV that his organisation would begin firing rockets further south into Israel than Haifa.
Israeli regrets
The four unarmed UN observers from Austria, Canada, China and Finland, died after their UN post in the town of Khiam was hit by an Israeli air strike on Tuesday.
The UN report says each time the UN contacted Israeli forces, they were assured the firing would stop.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has expressed "deep regrets" over the deaths.
Israel is conducting an investigation into the deaths.
It has rejected accusations made by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that the targeting of the UN position was "apparently deliberate".
White House spokesman Tony Snow said "something went really wrong" to cause the deaths, but also said there was no reason to suggest the bombing was deliberate.
'Utmost urgency'
The Rome summit, called by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, brought together EU and Arab nations plus the US and Russia, but not Israel, Iran or Syria.
The conference released a declaration expressing "determination to work immediately to reach with utmost urgency a ceasefire to put an end to the current hostilities".
It also said a ceasefire "must be lasting, permanent and sustainable".
The statement called for an international force with a UN mandate for south Lebanon, and the full implementation of existing UN Security Council resolutions calling for the disarming of militias and deployment of Lebanese troops in the border region.
I cannot believe the level force by which Israel has decided to retaliate in Lebanon
Glen, Edinburgh
Mr Annan said it was important to work with the countries of the region, including Syria and Iran, to find a solution to the crisis.
But Condoleezza Rice was critical of the role of both countries.
"It's not a question of talking to Syria, it's whether Syria's prepared to act," she said.
In an impassioned speech, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora warned that more people would die if the ceasefire was delayed, and called for a Lebanese-Israeli prisoner exchange as part of plan to end the fighting.
the israelis accidently opened fire at them with artillery 10 times and then accidently dropped a precision bomb on them.
i am sure your right on this one, seems a mistake entirely and a complete slip up, you know like what you accidently send a funny email to a work colleague and get in trouble for it, could happen to anyone really.
people accidently shell their neighbours with artillery so often, dont understand what the UN is getting so upset about.
the israelis accidently opened fire at them with artillery 10 times and then accidently dropped a precision bomb on them.
i am sure your right on this one, seems a mistake entirely and a complete slip up, you know like what you accidently send a funny email to a work colleague and get in trouble for it, could happen to anyone really.
people accidently shell their neighbours with artillery so often, dont understand what the UN is getting so upset about.
Yup.. like for the story to die down or they can work "American Idol" into it somehow like the girls signing the bombs.....
No until the probe is complete. During an action facts can be distorted or mixed up. Not to say it didn't happened (and if it did it's deporable) I just would rather wait for the probe.
No until the probe is complete. During an action facts can be distorted or mixed up. Not to say it didn't happened (and if it did it's deporable) I just would rather wait for the probe.
aight chief as you like....
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
No until the probe is complete. During an action facts can be distorted or mixed up. Not to say it didn't happened (and if it did it's deporable) I just would rather wait for the probe.
given israels actions during its whole history and its cover up's afterwards do you seriously believe they would conduct an honest investigation?
given israels actions during its whole history and its cover up's afterwards do you seriously believe they would conduct an honest investigation?
You mean like the massacre in Jenin that the Pals said happened that was later proven to be a lie by almost every international organization ? By the way guess what? The UN is conducting this probe.
You mean like the massacre in Jenin that the Pals said happened that was later proven to be a lie by almost every international organization ? By the way guess what? The UN is conducting this probe.
The massacre in Jenin didn't happen now? oh my God what a world we live in
You need to join the mosad... you are clearly talented
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
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