UN backs calls for Palestinian state

Israel today faced unprecedented international condemnation and UN-backed demands for a Palestinian state following days of fighting which has left dozens dead.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan led a chorus of criticism as Israel pressed ahead with is occupation of the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Mr Annan urged Israel to stop "the bombing of civilian areas, the assassinations, the unnecessary use of lethal force, the demolitions and the daily humiliation of ordinary Palestinians".

But he also urged the Palestinians to stop terrorist attacks and to respect Israel's right to exist. His criticism came as the UN voted for the first time for a US-backed resolution supporting a Palestinian state and calling for an immediate ceasefire in the escalating 18-month Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

But as Israel's biggest offensive in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 35 years continued, at least another five Palestinians were killed to add to yesterday's total of at least 32 Palestinian and seven Israeli dead.

The five Palestinians died before dawn during fighting with Israeli troops in Ramallah's al-Manara commercial district, near Yasser Arafat's headquarters.

Israel's foreign minister Shimon Peres urged restraint on prime minister Ariel Sharon, who has vowed to crush Palestinian militants who have been launching repeated raids and suicide attacks. Mr Peres fears the US Middle East envoy, Anthony Zinni, will be confronted with an impossible mission when he arrives tomorrow. "Zinni will not succeed if we do not help him," said Mr Peres, the government's leading dove.

Around 150 tanks and 20,000 troops entered Ramallah and refugee camps yesterday.