Making a thinly veiled attack on the US refusal to allow a condemnation of Israel, China's UN ambassador Wang Guangya expressed frustration over the deadlocked Security Council efforts to make statement on the Israeli attack which led to the UN deaths in Lebanon.

"It is an attack on UN peacekeepers, so we feel that if the UN Security Council cannot send a strong political message supporting our guys on the ground, I think it will be very difficult for people to understand," Wang told reporters.

"We need a strong statement to support our people."

He added: "With each passing day, if we do not do anything then I think the message will be interpreted very negatively.

A Chinese military observer was among the four dead -- with soldiers from Austria, Canada and Finland -- but Wang denied this was a consideration in China's demands for a strong statement.

"The important thing is not whose nationals are being killed but that UN staff on the ground are being killed," he said.

The United States blocked efforts to condemn Tuesday's attack or criticise Israel, its key ally, in talks on Wednesday, diplomats said.

"I think that if we get stuck on this particular issue for political considerations then definitely I think that people will feel frustrated and definitely I think it will affect smooth cooperation on other important issues," Wang said.

"This organisation cannot discuss issues on a selective basis."

Without naming the United States, Wang said "the policy of one delegation" had frustrated efforts to pass a UN Security Council presidential statement.

"On this council we have to cooperate with each other, but definitely this frustration will have its negative impact," said the envoy.

The six major powers on Thursday called off talks on passing a resolution against Iran's nuclear programme, in a move some diplomats said was linked to the Lebanon impasse.

Wang said there was also general frustration over the UN Security Council inaction over Lebanon, more than two weeks after Israel launched hostilities against its neighbour.

"It is really unfortunate because I think there are many people who are calling for a stop to this conflict. Most of the people who are being killed on the ground are civilians. But unfortunately this council cannot do anything," said Wang.

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