The World : U.S. Vetoes Arab U.N. Move

The United States deplored Israel’s interception of a Libyan civilian jet but vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have condemned the Israeli action. Ten of the 15 council members supported the resolution and four nations--Britain, France, Denmark and Australia--abstained in the vote that came after three days of debate. Before casting the veto, U.S. Ambassador Vernon A. Walters told delegates that “although the United States opposes Israel’s action in this case,” it rejected the Arab-backed resolution because it failed to take into account that the interception of an aircraft might be justified in some cases.