2010-06-01 16:09

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Tuesday condemned the Israeli attacks on a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza and called for "the immediate release" of the ships and personnel held by Israel.

At least 10 people were killed in the Israeli raid.

The condemnation was contained in a presidential statement adopted by the Security Council, which met in an emergency meeting at the request of Lebanon, Turkey and Palestine. The meeting started Monday afternoon and dragged on into Tuesday.

"The Security Council deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries resulting from the use of force during the Israeli military operation in international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza," the statement said. " The Council, in this context, condemns those acts which resulted in the loss of at least ten civilians and many wounded, and expresses its  condolences to their families."

Claude Heller, the Mexican UN ambassador who holds the rotating Council presidency for June, read the statement at an open Council meeting following hours of closed-door session at the UN Headquarters in New York.