UN chief to set up panel to probe Israel's bombing in Gaza

[Purveyor]

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has informed the Security Council of his intention to establish a commission to look into Israel's bombing of UN facilities in Gaza, the Council's president said on Monday.

The UN chief made the announcement in a closed-door briefing to the Security Council about his recent overseas visit to Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Japanese UN Ambassador Yukio Takasu told reporters.

Ban said that he will inform the Council of the panel's composition in the next few days and that a report will be presented to the Council on the its findings, Takasu said.

Palestine's UN observer Riyad Mansour told reporters that the commission will be composed of four individuals and a member of the Secretariat and will be headed by Ian Martin, a former president of Amnesty International and the current special representative of the secretary-general in Nepal for the UN Mission there.

"The fact that the secretary-general will report back to the Council is another indication that the Council will remain engaged on this phase of investigation of the crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinian people and the properties of the United Nations, and the crimes against humanity," Mansour said, adding that Ban's move is "a step in the right direction of investigating crimes committed by Israel."

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Xinhua: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/10/content_10791253.htm

[Jim Sagle]

1. The UN began as an anti-fascist alliance. It has become what it once opposed.

[Alamuti Lotus]

2. Please expand on that.

[delad]

3. shall i?

the UN is fascist because it questions Israel's use of overwhelming force on a captive, civilian population