US alarmed at Israeli-Turkish breakdown in ties

The Obama administration is scrambling to avoid further deterioration in ties between US allies Israel and Turkey.

The State Department said Tuesday that senior American diplomats, including Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, are working with both countries to "de-escalate" and "defuse" the crisis. Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Tuesday that Washington is concerned about the state of affairs and believes the two nations must have positive relations. (AP)