UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Monday that he had called the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to press for quick action to end the violence which has gripped the region since last week.
Speaking to reporters, Annan described the situation as "very worrying" after violence flared five days ago between Palestinians and Israeli troops, claiming 37 lives, mostly Palestinian.
"I have been in touch with the two leaders and appealed to them to do whatever they can to bring the situation under control," he said.
Annan, in Geneva to attend a meeting of the UN refugee agency's executive committee, added that he hoped the trouble would not derail peace talks and said the process to bring peace to the Middle East must succeed.
The violence was sparked last week by a visit to a disputed holy shrine in Jerusalem's Old City by the leader of the Israeli right-wing Likud party, Ariel Sharon - GENEVA (AFP)
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