BANGKOK, July 11 (Xinhuanet) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Sunday called on Israel to respect the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that the barrier being built by Israel along its border with Palestine is illegal and should be dismantled.  

    "I think the decision of the court is clear," Annan, who is here to open the International AIDS Conference, told reporters.

    "While we accept that the government of Israel has a responsibility and duty to protect its citizens, any action it takes has to be in conformity with international law and has to respect the interests of the Palestinians," Annan said.

    "Israel, as an occupying power, is responsible for the welfare of the Palestinian people, the UN Chief added.

    The ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, ruled on Friday that the Israeli separation fence is illegal and must be dismantled, and compensations must be paid to the Palestinians whose properties were confiscated for its construction.

    The court urged the United Nations to follow up with actions.

    "The ICJ report will have to be given to the UN General Assembly and we will see where it goes form there. I don't want to prejudge what they decide," Annan told reporters.

    Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Sunday rejected the court's non-binding ruling, calling it "one-sided and politically motivated".

    "I want to make clear, the state of Israel absolutely rejects the ruling of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. It is a one-sided and politically motivated ruling," Sharon said at the beginning of a weekly cabinet session in his first public comment on Friday's ruling.

    The hawkish prime minister said the decision sent a destructive message to encourage terror and denounced countries that were defending themselves against it.

    He also called on all nations that are part of the global war on terror to reject the court's ruling.

    Israel began construction of the barrier in 2002 which Israel says is aimed to block Palestinian suicide bombers. Much of the 640-kilometer wall is being built on territory Israel occupied in 1967.

    Palestinians say that the network of walls, fences and ditches is confiscating their land and dividing their communities and separating people from schools or workplaces. Enditem