Lebanon blames US for UN silence
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Lebanon has accused the United States of blocking a Security Council statement calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, and said the impotence of the UN’s most powerful body sent wrong signals to small countries.
Nouhad Mahmoud, the Lebanese special envoy, said: “It’s unacceptable because people are still under shelling, bombardment and destruction is going on … and people are dying.”
Qatar, the only Arab nation on the council, received widespread support during closed council consultations for a press statement calling for an immediate ceasefire, restraint in the use of force, and the protection of civilians caught in the conflict, council diplomats said.
But Cesar Mayoral, Argentina’s UN ambassador, said the United States objected to any statement and Britain opposed calling for a ceasefire.
