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31May10
Security Council meets on Gaza flotilla
One Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity that council members were hoping to adopt a statement voicing their shock at the incident and possibly backing U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's call for an investigation.
"It's not clear what will come out of the meeting," the diplomat said. "Obviously there are differences of opinion when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian issue."
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was due to speak during the council debate.
The emergency council session was convened at the request of Turkey and Lebanon, both of which are rotating non-permanent members of the council.
The permanent Palestinian observer to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, told reporters ahead of the meeting that he hoped for swift action by the 15-nation panel.
"We hope at the end the day that the Security Council will have a decisive outcome, a reaction (that will) bring Israel to account ... to condemn this action," he said, adding that Israel must "lift the siege against our people in Gaza."
Mansour represents the Palestinian Authority, which has no control over Gaza, as it is de facto governed by the militant group Hamas. Israel has maintained a three-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which U.N. officials have criticized for causing what they describe as a humanitarian crisis.
Israeli marines stormed a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza on Monday and at least 10 pro-Palestinian activists were killed, sparking widespread condemnation.
[Source: Reuters, United Nations, 31May10]
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