31 July- Daily Star- Global condemnation for latest Qana massacre- Nothing can justify deaths of innocents

Global condemnation for latest Qana massacre 'Nothing can justify' deaths of innocents
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=74369Compiled

by Daily Star staff Monday, July 31, 2006

An Israeli air strike on the Lebanese village of Qana that killed 60 people Sunday, including 37 children, drew a barrage of fierce condemnation from around the world. Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa issued a stern statement to "strongly condemn Israel's ongoing barbaric attacks on Lebanon, the latest of which is the attack on the village of Qana."
Moussa called for "an international investigation into this massacre and other Israeli war crimes committed in Lebanon."
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called the attack "irresponsible" and reiterated his call for an immediate cease-fire.
"Egypt is highly disturbed and condemns the irresponsible Israeli attack on the Lebanese village of Qana which led to the loss of innocent victims, most of whom were women and children," he said.
Egypt summoned Israel's ambassador to express its outrage, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheit, following his return from a brief trip to Damascus, summoned the Israeli ambassador to Cairo, Shalom Cohen, to inform him of Egypt's severe anger and complete condemnation of the Israeli strike on civilians in Lebanon," the statement said.
Jordan also condemned the raid, Israel's deadliest since it launched its offensive in Lebanon following the capture of two soldiers on July 12.
"This criminal aggression is a flagrant violation of international laws," said Jordan's King Abdullah II in a statement. "This is a horrible crime committed by the Israeli forces."
Iran blamed the bloody attack on the visit of the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the region.
"The result of Rice's trip is the Qana massacre," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said. "Zionist regime officials, as well as some US statesmen, should be put on trial for the crimes they commit."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the attack and asked the United Nations to oversee an immediate cease-fire, top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told AFP.
"Abu Mazen [Abbas] has called the Lebanese president and prime minister and offered his deepest condolences [for] the victims of the crime that was committed by Israel ... which he condemned in the strongest possible terms," he said.
The United Arab Emirates joined the chorus of condemnations of the "ugly massacre."
"This crime ... provides new proof of Israel's systematic policy of using its destructive weapons to kill in an indiscriminate way and without consideration for international laws and conventions that protect civilians," said Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
European leaders reacted with equal disgust and horror.
British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett called the Israeli strike "quite appaling" and a "tragedy" for the cease-fire negotiations.
"We have repeatedly urged Israel to act proportionately," she added, when asked if Britain saw the Qana attack or the bombing campaign as a "disproportionate" response.
EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner called for an "immediate cessation of violence."
"Israel's attack on the city of Qana means an escalation of violence that is unjustifiable at a time when the international community is jointly working to find a solution to the conflict," she said in a statement. "The killings of innocent people, particularly of children, must stop now."
The United States reiterated its support for Israel but urged the Jewish state to use restraint.
White House spokesman Blaine Rethmeier, asked by AFP for a response to the Israeli attack Sunday, said there was no change in position.
The United States "continues to urge Israel to use restraint," Rethmeier said in a telephone interview.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's representative, Geir Pedersen, said he was "deeply shocked and saddened by the killing of tens of Lebanese civilians, including many children in Qana, South Lebanon, and calls for immediate cease-fire and investigation," a statement said.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he was dismayed by a deadly Israeli raid on the Southern Lebanese village, saying Sunday that "nothing can justify" the deaths of innocent civilians.
Pope Benedict XVI also appealed for an immediate end to the hostilities.
"In the name of God, I appeal to all those responsible for this spiral of violence, so that they immediately put down their arms on all sides," he told faithful at his summer residence on the outskirts of Rome. Pausing, slightly he stressed the word "immediately."
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steimneier expressed horror at the death of dozens of people in the Israeli strike, and urged both sides not to block diplomatic efforts.
Steimneier said he had repeatedly underlined to Israel "that every use of military force, also in the framework of self-defense, must be proportionate - in particular, victims among the civilian population absolutely must be avoided."
Swedish Foreign Minister and former UN General Assembly president Jan Eliasson condemned the "madness."
"There is strong reason to condemn the attack against the housing complex in Qana leading to the deaths of civilians including children," he told AFP. "It is time to end this madness. The UN Security Council must accept its responsibility and immediately adopt a resolution to bring an end to hostilities."
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused Israel of "terrorism and pure fascism," while also blaming the US for endangering humanity. - Agencies