UN chief tours refugee camp, security fence

In his first trip to the Palestinian Authority territories, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon toured the Aida refugee camp on the outskirts of Bethlehem under heavy security Sunday and inspected the security fence in the West Bank. Large banners were hung from balconies in the camp reading "UN bodies and agencies should enable Palestinian refugees to exercise their right of return." Senior UN officials and the Palestinian governor of Bethlehem, Salah Tameri, explained to Ban the difficulties caused by Israeli travel restrictions and the fence. Later Sunday, Ban was to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the new Hamas-Fatah coalition government.