US vetoes resolution on Gaza

A total of 11 nations voted in favour in the 15-member council. Britain, Germany and Romania abstained and US Ambassador John Danforth exercised his veto power by voting "no."

The draft resolution would have reaffirmed support for the nearly dormant "road map" for Middle East peace and demanded "the immediate cessation of all military operations in the area of northern Gaza" and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Israel launched the offensive, code-named "Days of Reckoning," after a Palestinian rocket strike killed two children in the southern town of Sderot last Wednesday. Some 2,000 troops as well as tanks and helicopters were used.

Britain, Germany and Russia attempted to get a last minute compromise by adding some amendments but the effort failed.

Voting in favour were Russia, France, China, Spain, Angola, Chile, Pakistan, Algeria, Benin, Brazil and the Philippines.

Danforth told the council before the vote that the resolution was "lopsided and unbalanced," lacked credibility and deserved a "no" vote.

He said the resolution did not mention even one of the 450 Qassam rocket attacks launched against Israel over the past two years, 200 this year alone.

"When the rest of the world gangs up on Israel with an insidious silence on terrorism, it does not advance the cause of peace," Danforth said.

But Algerian Ambassador Abdalla Baali, said the council appeared to be effective only when it chastised Arab nations. He recalled the recent resolution telling Syrian troops to pull out of Lebanon even though "there was no threat whatsoever to international peace and security."

"We regret that such a balanced and credible text that was merely calling upon Israel to end its military operation which causes so many human losses and so much damage has not gained unanimous endorsement by the council," Baali said.

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