UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Thursday passed a statement expressing shock at Israel's attack on a UN observer post in Lebanon which killed four peacekeepers but making no condemnation.
"The security council is deeply shocked and distressed by the firing by the Israeli Defense Forces on a United Nations observer post in southern Lebanon on July 25, which caused the death of four UN military observers," said the statement passed unanimously by the 15 nation council after two days of stormy negotiations.
Diplomats said the United States had refused to agree any statement which criticised Israel or condemned the attack, which killed peacekeepers from Austria, Canada, China and Finland.
China had sought a stronger motion which condemned the attack.
07/27/2006 19:50 GMT