Security Council calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Source: Xinhua | 01-09-2009 14:34

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza "leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (R, front) speaks after  approval of the resolution calling for ceasefire between  Israel and Hamas in Gaza during the United Nations  Security Council meeting on Gaza crisis at the UN  headquarters in New York, the United States, Jan. 8,  2009.(Xinhua/Hou Jun)

The 15-nation council approved the resolution with 14 voting in favor. The United States abstained.

The council took the move after Arab and Western foreign ministers agreed on an amended version of a Britain-drafted resolution. It came on the 13th day of Israeli military assaults on Gaza in which more than 700 Palestinians have died.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, whose country holds the Security Council presidency for January, chaired the open council meeting, at which UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband were present.