UN urges Israel, Palestine not to escalate tension

Israeli and Palestinian militants should avoid escalating tension and the Lebanese government ought to assert control over its entire territory, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The Secretary-General deplores the firing of Katyusha rockets from Lebanon into the Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona last night," said the UN statement, which was issued after Israel launched air strikes in response to the Lebanese rocket attacks.

Moreover, Annan urged the Lebanese government again "to extend its control over all its territory, to exert its monopoly on the use of force, and to put an end to all such attacks."

All parties should respect the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon and avoid any actions that could lead to an escalation of the situation, Annan added.

Israeli warplanes attacked a Palestinian base early Wednesday, injuring two militants. The Israeli commanders said the strike was in revenge for the overnight rocket fire on Kiryat Shmona.

Source: Xinhua