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26/03/2004
UN resolution condemning Yassin killing vetoed by US
A UN Security Council resolution condemning the assassination of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin has failed to be ratified after the US vetoed what it called a "one-sided text".
The resolution, sponsored by Algeria and Libya, garnered 11 tallies in favour, with the United States casting the sole vote against it. Germany, Romania and the UK abstained.
Sheikh Yassin was killed by in an Israeli missile attack on Monday morning after leaving a mosque in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking before the vote, US ambassador John Negroponte said that his country opposed the resolution because it was "silent about the terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas".
The US also said that the resolution did not reflect the realities of the conflict in the Middle East and "will not further the goals of peace and security in the region".
However, Mr Negroponte said the US was "deeply troubled" by the killing of Sheikh Yassin.
"Israel's action has escalated tensions in Gaza and the region, and could set back our efforts to resume progress towards peace," he said.
However he added that events must be considered in their context and the Council "does nothing to contribute to a peaceful settlement when it condemns one party's actions and turns a blind eye to everything else occurring in the region".
Following the vote, Algeria's Ambassador, Abdallah Baali, voiced his disappointment at the result.
He said: "By not condemning the extrajudicial killing of Sheikh Yassin, the Security Council is not sending the right message to the world which has unanimously condemned this crime."
(gmcg)
The resolution, sponsored by Algeria and Libya, garnered 11 tallies in favour, with the United States casting the sole vote against it. Germany, Romania and the UK abstained.
Sheikh Yassin was killed by in an Israeli missile attack on Monday morning after leaving a mosque in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking before the vote, US ambassador John Negroponte said that his country opposed the resolution because it was "silent about the terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas".
The US also said that the resolution did not reflect the realities of the conflict in the Middle East and "will not further the goals of peace and security in the region".
However, Mr Negroponte said the US was "deeply troubled" by the killing of Sheikh Yassin.
"Israel's action has escalated tensions in Gaza and the region, and could set back our efforts to resume progress towards peace," he said.
However he added that events must be considered in their context and the Council "does nothing to contribute to a peaceful settlement when it condemns one party's actions and turns a blind eye to everything else occurring in the region".
Following the vote, Algeria's Ambassador, Abdallah Baali, voiced his disappointment at the result.
He said: "By not condemning the extrajudicial killing of Sheikh Yassin, the Security Council is not sending the right message to the world which has unanimously condemned this crime."
(gmcg)
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