By NNN-KUNA
Cairo : Voicing deep disappointment and discontent over the failure of the Palestinian national unity government that grouped Fatah and Hamas, United Nations Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon has called for Palestinian unity to be restored.
In an interview with Al-Ahram daily published on Monday, the secretary general expressed his support for the call by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak regarding the restoration of unity in the Palestinian territories.
The top UN official affirmed the vital need for Egypt to continue seeking means to end the crisis in the Middle East.
On the call to hold early legislative elections in Palestine, he said: "It's up to the Palestinian people to decide whether holding the elections is possible at this time."
On the resumption of internatinal aid after the formation of a new Palestinian government, he highlighted that the UN mirrored support for the legitimacy of this government.
The secretary-general rejected being "silent" and "unconcerned" over the killings of civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq by US forces, affirming that he has sincere intention to consolidate the UN's role in Iraq.
On Iran's nuclear issue, he urged Washington and Tehran to stop their verbal threats and seek negotiations to settle differences.
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