U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan "continues to be deeply concerned" at the upsurge in violence in the Middle East, U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said today. "The secretary-general and his representatives in the region have repeatedly called on the government of Israel to respect the inviolability of U.N. institutions and installations, and in particular, to refrain from any activities that endanger the lives and safety of those who are lawfully on the premises, especially children," Eckhard told reporters. The remarks follow the death of 10-year-old Raghda Adnan al-Assar, who died last week after being hit in the head by an Israeli Defense Forces bullet while sitting in an U.N. classroom. Saed al-Madhoun, a 55-year-old man, was shot and killed Monday at a U.N. school, and a contractor was seriously injured at a U.N. warehouse in Rafah. "The secretary-general reiterates the obligation for the government of Israel to ensure the safety of civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory," said Eckhard.
