Washington: In reacting to the killing of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi by Israel, the US has again stressed Israel's "right to defend itself from terrorist attacks" while exhorting the two warring sides to "exercise maximum restraint".

The US tempered its apparent defence of Israel's policy of "targeted assassinations" of Palestinians with the advice for Tel Aviv to "consider carefully the consequences of its actions".

"As we have repeatedly made clear, Israel has the right to defend itself from terrorist attacks. Hamas is a terrorist organization that attacks civilians, and that claimed responsibility for the suicide attack today that killed one and injured other Israeli guards at the Erez crossing," a White House statement said yesterday (Apr 17, 2004).

It said the US was "gravely concerned" for regional peace and stability.

"The United States strongly urges Israel to consider carefully the consequences of its actions, and we again urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint at this time. This is especially true at a moment when there is hope that an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza will bring a new opportunity for progress toward peace. All parties should focus on the positive, concrete steps needed now to make the Gaza withdrawal successful."