Friday, July 14 2006 14:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: The US vetoed an Arab-backed Security Council measure demanding the release of an Israeli soldier held by Palestinian militants, and for Israel to release 64 Palestinian officials in its custody. US Ambassador John Bolton cast the negative vote for the US, a permanent council member, thereby automatically vetoing the resolution Thursday.

Bolton called the resolution unbalanced and outdated.

It would have been the council's first since the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit last week and Israel's subsequent invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Britain abstained from voting while the council's other three permanent members - France, Russia and China all voted in favour. All in all the resolution was approved by 10 nations while four Peru, Slovenia, Denmark and Britain - abstained.

Bolton charged Syria and Iran with supporting military activities by Hamas militants, which have attacked southern Israel with rockets from the Gaza Strip.

"Without the material and financial support from Syria and Iran, Hamas will be severely crippled in carrying out its terrorist operations," Bolton said.

"We call upon Syria and Iran to end their role as state-sponsoring terrorism and unequivocally condemn the actions of Hamas," Bolton said.