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CNN Live At Daybreak

UN Resolution Backing Israeli Withdrawal Opposed by U.S.

Aired April 04, 2002 - 05:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: At the United Nations, a draft resolution demanding Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian territories will be back before the Security Council today. The proposal is facing stiff opposition, though, from the United States.

Our Senior U.N. Correspondent Richard Roth has details on this intense debate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: After about 11 more hours of speeches and some closed-door consultations, the Security Council decided it wasn't ready to vote on a new resolution, which would in effect tell the Israelis and the Palestinians to try to implement now what the security council has already told them: Israel should pull its troops out and there should be an end to violence and there should be a meaningful cease-fire. But no matter what the words on paper in New York say, it seems difficult to get the people on the ground with weapons to implement the words.

Here at the Security Council, the Palestinians, the Syrians, are backing a new resolution which would demand that Israel pull its troops out. The United States says there is no need for a new resolution. There are enough words already on paper.

The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Negroponte huddled with Palestinian representative Nasser Al-Kidwa at the end of the Wednesday evening session. The U.S. says it needs more instructions from Washington. There will be more discussions in the afternoon New York time.

The U.S. meanwhile expressed concern in the Council about Hezbollah's shelling of Israel from southern Lebanon. Secretary General Annan is also concerned about that and spoke to leaders in the region.

During the debate, Syria's ambassador said Israel must be made to pull back its forces. Countries such as Bulgaria took both sides, basically condemning all the violence, but said, "This culture of glorifying martyrdom for the Palestinians that commit terrorist bombings must stop." He said, "It's got to go."

Richard Roth, CNN, reporting at the United Nations.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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