01 February 2004	Sunday	09 Zilhaj 1424

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 30: In an unusually strong criticism on Friday, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations chastised Secretary General Kofi Annan over his remarks on the latest suicide bombing in occupied Al Quds.

Dan Gillerman called a press conference to denounce Thursday's statement, issued while Annan was in Brussels during a two-week trip to Europe, which made no mention of the attack on a crowded bus or the 10 Israelis killed.

He suggested that Annan may not have even seen the statement issued in his name, a claim rejected by a UN spokeswoman here.

"No mention is made of Israeli victims slaughtered in the bombing... no specific reference is made to the attack at all," Gillerman told reporters.

"The moral clarity of the secretary general in expressly condemning brutal acts of terrorism like yesterday's attack is especially important. This is why we must unfortunately express our disappointment and dismay."

Annan's statement issued after the attack, which also wounded around 50 people, said: "Once again violence and terror have claimed innocent lives in the Middle East. Once again I condemn those who resort to such methods.

"Once again I appeal, to Israelis and Palestinians alike, to rise above feelings of anger and vengeance, however natural, and to devote all their energies to negotiating a true and lasting peace in which two peoples will live side by side, each in their own state."-Reuters