Killing of Hamas leader will deepen violence, says Clark

Prime Minister Helen Clark says the killing of a top Hamas leader will simply increase violence in the Middle East.

Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi died after an Israeli helicopter fired two missiles at his car in the Gaza Strip.

Enraged Palestinians have said United States President George W. Bush shared the blame for his death.

The Bush Administration refrained from condemning the killing, limiting its criticism of the assassination to saying it feared for the stability of the Middle East.

Helen Clark echoed that stance yesterday.

"The New Zealand Government sees such incidents as counter productive in reaching a settlement between Israeli and the Palestinians," she told NZPA through her spokesman.

"We're very concerned that this sort of killing simply ratchets up the cycle of violence."

The White House urged Israel to think through the consequences of its actions.

- NZPA