Concerned at rising Middle East violence, Annan urges parties to pursue peace

Concerned at the escalating violence in the Middle East, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called on the conflicting parties to respect international law while settling their differences peacefully.

Since last Saturday at least 27 Palestinians and four Israelis have been killed, with many more injured, even as representatives of the international community are meeting in London to discuss ways to resume peaceful negotiations, a spokesman for Mr. Annan noted in a statement issued late Wednesday in New York.

"The Secretary-General remains convinced that there is no military solution to this conflict," the spokesman said, stressing that violence – far from producing security or lasting peace – would only feed the "terrible cycle" which began in September 2000.

In the statement, the Secretary-General urged the parties to immediately cease all forms of violence, abide by international humanitarian law and allow the international community to help them find a peaceful way out of the conflict.