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World Leaders Express Regret, Outrage at Israeli Raid on Aid Flotilla

   VOA News 31 May 2010
   The  European Union's foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton speaks to
   reporters in Warsaw, Poland, 31 May 2010

Photo: AP

   The  European Union's foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, speaking
   to  reporters in Warsaw, Poland, said the EU is deeply concerned about
   Israel's  storming of ships off of Gaza that killed 10 people, and she
   called on Israel to carry out an inquiry, 31 May 2010

   The  United  States  has expressed regret at Israel's attack on an aid
   flotilla that killed 10 pro-Palestinian activists on Monday.

   In  a  statement, the White House said it is trying to "understand the
   circumstances" surrounding the incident.

   United  Nations  Secretary-General  Ban Ki-moon said he was shocked by
   the  violence  against  the  pro-Palestinian aid mission, and demanded
   that  Israel  conduct  a full investigation. The U.N. Security Council
   has called an emergency meeting to discuss the incident.

   The European Union also called for an inquiry, with EU foreign affairs
   chief  Catherine  Ashton  demanding "an immediate" and "unconditional"
   opening of crossings into Gaza. Ambassadors from EU member nations are
   to meet Monday in Brussels to discuss the Israeli action.

   Arab  League chief Amr Mussa denounced the raid, labeling it a "crime"
   and  calling  for an emergency meeting of the 22-member group. Iranian
   President  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a longtime critic of Israel, described
   the operation as "inhuman."

   Hundreds  of  people  took  to  the  streets  in  Turkey and Jordan to
   denounce  Israel,  while  Spain,  Greece  and  several  other European
   countries called home their ambassadors to Israel.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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