THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTED A STATEMENT ON THURSDAY EXPRESSING SHOCK AND DISTRESS AT ISRAEL'S DEADLY BOMBING OF A U.N. OUTPOST IN LEBANON AND CALLING FOR ISRAEL TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE INQUIRY, REUTERS REPORTED. THE POLICY STATEMENT IS WEAKER THAN ONE PROPOSED BY CHINA AND OTHER NATIONS AND IS EXPECTED TO BE READ AT PUBLIC MEETING ON THURSDAY BY FRANCE'S U.N. AMBASSADOR JEAN-MARC DE LA SABLIERE. CHINA, EXPRESSING FRUSTRATION AT THE DELAY SINCE FOUR PEACEKEEPERS, ONE OF THEM A CHINESE, WERE KILLED ON TUESDAY, EARLIER WARNED THE UNITED STATES THAT ITS OPPOSITION TO THE STATEMENT COULD COULD JEOPARDIZE U.N. NEGOTIATIONS ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS.
