Top UN envoy in Middle East voices 'horror' over latest round of violence

The United Nations top envoy in the Middle East today expressed "horror" over the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian violence, warning of the dangers of unchecked escalation.

In a statement released in Gaza, Terje Roed-Larsen, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, condemned "in the strongest terms" today's terror attack by Palestinian gunmen in West Jerusalem, which left a large number of Israelis seriously injured. Earlier this morning, he had condemned the killing of five Palestinians in Nablus by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), warning that such actions led only to escalation and further violence.

"Each loss of life is another tragic turn in a dance of death that can only produce more grief and more pain," Mr. Roed-Larsen said, warning that the violence now threatened to spin out of control once again.

The Special Coordinator also expressed his deep sympathy for the families of those who were killed in today's violence.