Ban: Phone Talks with Leaders of Turkey And Israel

Ban in Phone Talks with Leaders of Turkey And Israel on Probe into Raid on Aid Boat

New York, Jun 6 2010 12:10AM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today held telephone discussions with the Prime Ministers of Turkey and Israel on options for moving forward with the investigation called for by the United Nations Security Council following the incident in which a convoy of aid ships bound for Gaza was intercepted leading to loss of life.

A statement issued by the spokesperson of the Secretary-General following Mr. Ban''s telephone discussions with Prime Ministers Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, and Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, said the Secretary-General will continue to consult concerned parties and Council members.

The Security Council on 1 June condemned the acts that led to the deaths of some 10 civilians after the Israeli military intercepted a convoy of aid ships bound for Gaza, calling for a "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation."

Dozens of other people were wounded when Israeli forces took control of the six-ship flotilla in international waters, according to press reports. The convoy was said to have been carrying educational, medical and construction materials, as well as hundreds of activists from different countries.

In a presidential statement, the Council said that it "deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries resulting from the use of force during the Israeli military operation in international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza."

Jun 6 2010 12:10AM

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