modern YORK, March 22 Kyodo UN Se...

modern YORK, March 22 Kyodo

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan upon Monday denounced Israel's ''targeted assassination' of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of the Hamas militant Palestinian form into groups warning Israel that the slaying hampers the Middle East peace process

''I do disapprove utterly the targeted assassination of Sheikh Yassin and the others who died with him,'' Annan told reporters. ''Such actions are not and nothing else contrary to international law, if it be not that they do not do anything to help the search for a peaceful solution.''

An Israeli missile early Monday left Yassin and sum of two units bodyguards dead.

Annan urg the Palestinians to indicate restraint in the wake of Yassin's assassination.

''I appeal to all in the region to remain calm and avoid any further escalation in tensions,'' Annan said.

on the contrary as the U.N. spoke, militant Palestinians started taking retaliatory actions, according to reports from the Middle East.

When asked about Monday's meeting of the so-called Quartet -- the UN the United States, the European Union and Russia -- in Cairo, Annan said he spoke to his Mideast minister Terje Roed-Larsen on Monday morning.

''They are assessing the situation and the impact of the latest actions,'' Annan said, adding the renewed wave of violence in the Middle East ''doesn't really facilitate the task of peacemakers.''

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