UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday called on all sides in the upsurge of violence in the Gaza Strip to exercise maximum restraint and ensure that civilians are not harmed.

"I've been following with great concern developments in the Middle East," Annan told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York, noting that he had been in touch with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Syrian President Bashar al Assad.

He said he was really working with everyone to try and calm down the situation, adding "we cannot condone the use of Katyushas that place Israelis at risk and the Israeli government has the responsibility to protect its citizens but it has to do so with restraint."

The secretary-general stressed that the first step towards a solution would be the release of the Israeli soldier kidnapped by Palestinian militants.

"I think the first thing they will have to do, that everyone seems concerned about, is the release of the kidnapped soldier. I think that will really help peace matters," he said.

Annan pointed out that it is understandable that the Israelis would want to go after those who kidnapped the soldier but it has to be done in such a way that the civilian population are not made to suffer.

He also observed that it was important that the two leaders work together to calm the situation, and said Olmert had indicated he was exercising maximum restraint following Israel's incursion into the Gaza Strip.

However, Annan admitted that he got no assurance from the Israelis that they would pull out and try a diplomatic initiative.

"But I think the Prime Minister indicated to me they are exercising maximum restraint," he said.

Source: Xinhua