UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday reiterated the obligation for the Israeli government to ensure the safety of civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory.

    "The secretary-general continues to be deeply concerned at the upsurge in violence in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel," a UN spokesman said in a statement.

    The statement said "the secretary-general and his representatives in the region have repeatedly called on the government of Israel to respect the inviolability of UN institutions and installations, and in particular, to refrain fromany activities that endanger the lives and safety of those who arelawfully on the premises, especially children."

    The UN chief was saddened to learn of the death of Raghda Adnanal-Assar, a 10-year-old Palestinian girl who died on Sept. 22 after being shot in the head by Israeli troops while she was sitting at her desk at the UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East) Elementary School in Khan Younis on Sept. 7, said the statement.

    On Sept. 27, 55-year-old Said al-Madhoun was shot and killed onthe grounds of UNRWA's Preparatory School in Khan Younis, and on the same day, a UNRWA contractor was shot and seriously wounded while working in a UN warehouse in Rafah, according to the statement. Enditem