Secretary-General deplores killing of Palestinian civilians

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today deplored the killing of Palestinian civilians, including two children, by an Israeli Defence Force missile during Israel's incursion today into the Rafah refugee camp on the Gaza Strip.

"Not for the first time, the Secretary-General reminds Israel that the disproportionate use of force in densely populated areas is not compatible with international humanitarian law," spokesperson Hua Jiang said at news briefing.

Mr. Annan called again on both sides to take every measure to avoid harming innocent civilians, she added.

Meanwhile, Syria, chairing the Arab Group for October, submitted a draft resolution for consideration by the 15-member Security Council. The text protests Israel's construction of a separation barrier in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The draft, sent to the Security Council President for October, Ambassador John Negroponte of the United States, urges the Council to decide "that the construction by Israel, the occupying power, of a wall in the Occupied Territories departing from the armistice line of 1949 is illegal under relevant provisions of international law and must be ceased and reversed."

Answering questions about the draft after closed Council consultations, Ambassador Negroponte said an open meeting on the resolution would take place next Tuesday.