UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Four U.N. independent human rights experts have arrived in Lebanon to investigate possible abuses during the recent Hezbollah-Israel conflict.
"The independent human rights experts will gather first-hand information, establish facts and conduct an impartial legal analysis of the persistent allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law during the recent conflict in order to make specific recommendations to the concerned authorities," the United Nations said Thursday.
The experts will spend six days in the region, three days each in Lebanon and Israel.
In both countries they are expected to meet with government officials and representatives of civil society as well as visit attack sites and interview witnesses.
The decision to send the team followed an Aug. 11 resolution by the U.N. Human Rights Council condemning "grave Israeli violations of human rights" in Lebanon and announcing an investigation would begin.
The resolution was passed by a vote of 27 to 11, with eight abstentions, during a special session of the council.
A joint report on the mission will be submitted to the Council for consideration at a session to be held later this month.
The experts are Walter Kali, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's representative on the human rights of internally displaced persons; Philip Alston, the special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Paul Hunt, the special rapporteur on the right to physical and mental health; and Miloon Kothari, the special rapporteur on adequate housing.
On July 19 and then again on July 31 U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour voiced concern at the killing and maiming of civilians in Lebanon, Israel and the Gaza Strip. On both occasions, Arbour stressed international law demands accountability.
