Palestinians seek Security Council ruling

AP PHOTO

Palestinians run away from the Palestinian police station as it is hit by Israeli rockets fired by helicopters in the West Bank town of Ramallah yesterday.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The Security Council said yesterday it was gravely concerned about the escalation of violence in the Middle East but held off on Palestinian demands for an emergency session to consider another resolution demanding an end to the fighting.

U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke said the United States would oppose any new resolution at this point, saying the one adopted on Saturday which condemned the "excessive use of force'' against Palestinians was biased and unhelpful.

The United States abstained from the resolution, which also backed an objective investigation into the violence.

"It's hard to conceive of any action the Security Council could take today which would be anything other than negative to an explosive situation and furthermore would undermine the valiant efforts of the secretary-general,'' he said.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan is in the Middle East trying to negotiate a truce between the two sides.

His efforts were all but dashed yesterday when Israeli helicopters rocketed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's residential compound, Palestinian police stations and broadcasting centers to retaliate against the killing of Israeli soldiers by a Palestinian mob.

The Palestinian U.N. observer, Nasser Al-Kidwa, had requested an emergency meeting of the council yesterday, saying the Israeli attacks were "tantamount to the declaration of an overall war against the entire Palestinian people.''

Al-Kidwa told reporters he wanted the council to adopt a resolution calling for a cessation of violence, demanding implementation of Saturday's resolution, and expressing support for Annan's efforts.

Security Council president Martin Andjaba of Namibia said the council was considering the request to convene a meeting but that the council had directed him to contact Annan first to get his assessment of the situation.

Annan issued a plea yesterday for both sides to restrain themselves - a call backed by the council.