Gaza under fire: President urges UN to step in

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 12/29/2008 6:17 PM 

GIVE IT UP: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono addresses a press conference on Indonesia's stance regarding Israel's air strikes in Gaza. The President announced Monday that the government would send Rp 1 billion (US$90,000) worth of aid, excluding medical aid, to help Palestinian victims. Courtesy of Presidential Office/Abror Rizki

Indonesia has urged the United Nations (UN) to hold a formal meeting for a resolution urging Israel to stop attacking Palestine's Gaza border, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says. 

The President had sent letters to the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and the UN Security Council, demanding firmer actions to stop the attacks, Yudhoyono said as quoted by Antara state news wire on Monday. 

"We expect the council to hold an official gathering to force Israel to stop its offense," Yudhoyono said after a meeting at the Presidential Palace with Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono,

State Secretary Hatta Radjasa, National Police (TNI) chief Djoko Santosa and Foreign Ministry director general for multilateral affairs Rezlan A. Djanie. 

The council's move to hold an informal meeting and produce a written statement against the attacks was not enough to bring the violence to an end, Yudhoyono said.

"We will send Rp 1 billion (approximately US$ 90,000) worth of aid, excluding medical aid, to help the victims," he said, adding that Indonesia would continue to monitor developments in Israel. (ewd)

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QUEEN LENDS A HAND: In this photo released by the Jordan Royal Palace, Queen Rania of Jordan donates blood in Amman, Jordan,Tuesday, for Palestinians who were injured in attacks by Israeli air strikes on Gaza.