United Nations: UN chief Ban Ki-moon has expressed alarm over the mounting violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel and urged "maximum restraint" by Israeli forces as well as an end to sniper and rocket fire into the Jewish state. "The Secretary General is deeply concerned at the current escalation of violence in Gaza and southern Israel, as well as in the West Bank," his press office said in a statement yesterday.

"He is troubled by the heavy bloodshed, particularly the killing and injuring of civilians on both sides and the potential for further casualties unless the situation is de-escalated," it added.

Ban called for an "immediate cessation of Palestinian sniper and rocket attacks into Israel, and for maximum restraint on the part of the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)." He also reminded all parties of "their obligation to comply with international humanitarian law and not to endanger civilians."

Yesterday, Israel locked down the Gaza Strip, the same day its air strikes killed five more Palestinians there in a bid to halt nearly daily rocket fire and as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed to keep up raids on gunmen in the Hamas-run territory. Last night, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak closed all border crossings between Israel and Gaza.

Source : PTI