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Wednesday
Mar 17th

Armed Conflicts: UN Security Council wants civilians protected

New York-US - The UN Security Council on Wednesday in New York, US, unanimously voted to adopt a resolution urging parties involved in armed conflicts to take all measures to ensure the protection of civilians.

The Pan African News Agency (PANA) reports that the Security Council also demand ed that parties to armed conflict comply strictly with relevant international law.

It also urged them to ``take all required measures to respect and protect the civilian population and meet its basic needs''.

The council reiterated ``its condemnation in the strongest terms of attacks in situations of armed conflict directed against civilians''.

It also voiced its willingness to ``respond to situations of armed conflict where civilians are being targeted or humanitarian assistance to civilians is being deliberately obstructed''.

In such circumstances, the council said it would take actions ``including through the consideration of appropriate measures at the Security Council's disposal in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations''.

The 15-member body adopted the resolution at an open meeting on Wednesday on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

New York - 11/11/2009

Pana