RIYADH, Oct 5 (AFP) - The Saudi government on Monday strongly condemned Israel's ongoing military action in the Gaza Strip and called on the United Nations and the sponsors of the "roadmap" for Middle East peace to put an end to it.
In a statement published after its regular weekly meeting, the Saudi cabinet decried "the acts of extermination perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people, the destruction of their homes and the escalation of the racist and terrorist aggression in the Gaza Strip.
"The international community must act to stop these racist practices and this heinous Israeli aggression aimed at wiping out the Palestinian people," added the statement, published by the official SPA agency.
The UN Security Council and the international "quartet" on the Middle East -- The UN, the United States, the European Union and Russia -- should take the lead, the government added.
The UN Security Council on Monday discussed the Middle East after Algeria submitted a draft resolution calling on Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza, but the United States quickly criticized the measure.
The draft, presented by Arab nations and up for a vote Tuesday, was introduced amid a massive Israeli incursion in the Gaza Strip that was launched six days ago to establish a buffer zone that would prevent militants from firing rockets at Israel.
Since the start of the campaign, 78 Palestinians have been killed.
Saudi Arabia's King Fahd, who presided over the cabinet meeting, called for dialogue and the development of "a culture of peace".