Annan disturbed at reports that Israelis again destroyed Palestinian homes in West Bank

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, is "disturbed" by reports that the Israeli Government has again destroyed the homes of Palestinians in the West Bank, according to a UN spokesman.

In a statement on the Middle East released late Friday, the spokesman also cited reports that the Israeli Government was considering the forcible transfer of relatives of suicide bombers from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip.

"While he has repeatedly condemned suicide bombings and upheld Israel's right to defend itself, the Secretary-General wishes to make clear that self-defence cannot justify measures that amount to collective punishments," the statement said.