The Middle East summit in Egypt must tackle an "urgent and major crisis" which has political and economic repercussions for the whole world, UN Secretary General Koffi Annan said Sunday.
"This crisis is not limited to the Palestinian territories and Israel," where more than 100 people have died in two weeks, Annan told a press conference after discussing plans for Monday's summit with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
"It is going to affect all countries rich and poor," Annan added, standing next to Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa.
Annan recalled that the violence has sparked angry protests in many countries, not only in the Middle East but in places as far apart as Indonesia and the United States, and has also been linked to a surge in oil prices.
"It is going to affect global growth," he warned.
"This is an urgent and major crisis for all of us," Annan added.
"That is why I as Secretary General of the United Nations have devoted so much time to working with President Mubarak and President Clinton to get this conference going."
After arriving Saturday at the summit venue in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Annan said the conference "cannot afford to fail."
Moussa also expressed concern.
"The Israeli action threatens the stability of the whole region," Moussa said, adding the goal of the summit should be to get Israel to withdraw troops it sent into Palestinian areas in the last two weeks.
More than 100 people, mostly Palestinians, have been killed since bloody clashes erupted at the end of last month between Israeli forces and protesters in the Palestinian territories, although the region was relatively calm on Sunday.
Some 3,000 people have also been injured since the upsurge in violence following the September 28 visit by Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon to a disputed site in Jerusalem held sacred by both Muslims and Jews, infuriating Palestinians -- SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AFP)
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