Miliband in call over Gaza crisis

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Mr Miliband said he was "deeply concerned" by the decision of the Palestinian Authority to break off negotiations with the Israeli government after its forces launched military strikes on Gaza, reportedly claiming around 100 lives.

The Israeli action followed an escalation of the rocket attacks into Israeli border towns from the territory which is controlled by the militant Islamist group, Hamas.

In a statement, Mr Miliband condemned the rocket attacks as "terrorist acts" and and said that Israel was entitled to the right of self-defence. However, he also said that any response must be in accordance with international law.

"I support the UN Secretary General's call for all parties to step back from the brink of even deeper and more deadly clashes," he said.

"Israel's right to security and self-defence is clear and must be reiterated and supported.

"But measures taken in response to rockets must be in accordance with international law, minimising the suffering for innocent civilians, and maximising the scope for political negotiations to be restarted."

Mr Miliband said that the resumption of negotiations between the Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli government offered the only prospect of a peaceful solution to the crisis.

"These discussions, and swift progress in them, represent the only way of disarming the arguments of the extremists and bringing peace to the region," he said.