Obama: Use flotilla tragedy for Mideast peace

US President Barack Obama was quoted in a television interview on Thursday as saying the deadly Gaza flotilla incident was "tragic," but expressing hope it could somehow provide an opening to boost Middle East peace efforts.

Obama, in an interview with CNN's Larry King days after an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish aid ship, said Israel "has legitimate security concerns" about the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, the network said on its website. But he also said Israel's blockade of Gaza "is preventing people" from pursuing economic opportunities," CNN reported in an excerpt of what will be broadcast in full later on Thursday. (Reuters)