Israeli Ambassador summoned to meeting over UN deaths

The Ministers for Defence and Foreign Affairs have summoned the Israeli Ambassador to a meeting today following the killing of four UN observers in south Lebanon.

The observers, from China, Finland, Austria and Canada, were killed when a massive Israeli bomb destroyed the base in the town of Khiyam yesterday.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has accused Israel of deliberately targeting the UN position, but the Israeli Government claims it was an accident.

Defence Minister Willie O'Dea revealed today that Irish personnel had been in the observation post just 48 hours before the bombing and would be seeking assurances from the Israeli Ambassador about the safety of Irish troops in Lebanon.

He said the commander of the Irish forces in south Lebanon had warned Israel on six separate occasions yesterday that its shells were landing in the proximity of the UN base.

"His warnings were detailed, explicit and specific and, despite that, they were ignored on six occasions, which gives rise to a great deal of concern," he said.