U.N. chief: Gaza violence 'heartbreaking'

[babylonsister]

U.N. chief: Gaza violence 'heartbreaking'

GAZA CITY, Gaza (CNN) -- The U.N. chief has visited the burned-out shell of a U.N. compound in Gaza and urged both Israeli and Palestinian leaders to achieve political reconciliation after what he said was the "heartbreaking" violence of the last three weeks.

"The repeated violence felt by Palestinians and Israelis is a mark of collective political failure," said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Speaking less than three days after Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas each agreed to a cease-fire to end three-weeks of intense fighting, Ban had strong words for both sides.

"I have condemned from the outbreak of this conflict the excessive use of force by Israeli forces in Gaza. I view the rocket attacks into Israel as completely unacceptable. We need to restore basic respect for civilians," he said.

He also called on Palestinian factions to unify under the framework of the Palestinian Authority.

He described seeing "heartbreaking scenes" and said he was "deeply grieved by what I have seen today."

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http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/20/gaza.war.israel/