UNITED NATIONS, Aug 24 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Tuesday said Israel's latest move to expand settlements in the West Bank went against the stalled roadmap plan for Middle East peace.
Israeli government officials on Monday confirmed there were plans to build around 500 housing units -- including more than 300 at two settlements close to Jerusalem -- after the US softened opposition to the construction.
"The secretary general expresses strong concern over reports of Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, through the government of Israel's recent publication of tenders for construction of new housing units," Annan's spokesman said in a statement.
"Such activities clearly contradict Israel's obligations under the road map," the statement said. "The secretary general calls on the government of Israel to cease this settlement expansion."
The Israeli announcement came after it emerged that Washington had given its tacit approval for expansion of existing Jewish settlements to accommodate "natural growth" in contradiction of the roadmap plan.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last week approved the construction of around 1,000 new homes in four of the largest West Bank settlements in a move which was widely interpreted as a bid to placate opponents of his plan to pull troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip.