Russia upset by Security Council silence on Gaza

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Russia's United Nations. ambassador on Monday expressed frustration that the Security Council has remained silent about the escalating violence in Gaza between Israel and Hamas as the United States has blocked any action.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Morocco had circulated a proposed press statement as early as last Thursday but foot-dragging by one council member meant it "is still bogged down." Mr Churkin said, "To me, it looks like a filibuster attempt." He would not tell reporters outside the Security Council on Monday which nation was blocking the press statement, which must be adopted unanimously.

But he said anyone guessing it was the United States would be "a connoisseur" of Security Council politics.

"One member of the Security Council, I'm sure you can guess which, indicated quite transparently that they will not be prepared to go along with any reaction of the Security Council. Somehow, allegedly, that would hurt the current efforts carried out by Egypt in the region," Mr Churkin said.