UNITED NATIONS, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The United States abstained from voting on a Gaza ceasefire resolution at the United Nations on Thursday because it wanted to see the outcome of Egyptian mediation efforts first, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.

Despite the abstention, Rice said the United States supported the contents of the resolution.

"The United States thought it important to see the outcomes of the Egyptian mediation efforts in order to see what this resolution might have been supporting," she said. (Reporting by Sue Pleming; Editing by John O'Callaghan)

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