CAIRO, Oct. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed AbulGheit expressed Wednesday Egypt's disappointment at a US veto on a UN Security Council draft resolution which urged Israel to stopmilitary operations in northern Gaza.

   In press statements, Gheit said that Egypt regretted for the US stance on the draft sponsored by the Arab countries in the United Nations.

   Furthermore, he expressed regret that the internationalcommunity failed to give Israel a clear message to stop its operation against the Palestinians, or show dissatisfaction with the operations, which have killed scores of innocent Palestinians.

   Israel should not take for granted that the US veto was a green light for it to carry on with its operation against the Palestinians, said Gheit.

   The United States on Tuesday vetoed an Arab-backed UN Security Council resolution demanding Israel immediately end military operations in the Gaza Strip and withdraw its troops.

   Germany, Britain and Romania abstained from the vote on thedraft proposed by Algeria, Tunisia and Pakistan while the other 11 UN Security Council member states voted for the motion.

   The Israeli army has been staging a large-scale military operation in the northern Gaza Strip in a bid to stop militants from firing homemade Qassam rockets at southern Israel.

   Some 70-80 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded in the week-long campaign, it was reported.  Enditem