UN official says Israel not co-operating with Human Rights Council probe of Gaza flotilla raid

GENEVA — A U.N. official says Israel isn't co-operating with the U.N. Human Rights Council's probe of May's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

Juan Carlos Monge, who is assigned to accompany the fact-finding mission, says it is speaking with witnesses and government officials in Turkey and Jordan, but Israel hasn't granted the team an invitation.

Israel's U.N. mission said Tuesday it wasn't commenting on the investigation.

Israeli commandos killed nine pro-Palestinian activists trying to break the Jewish state's blockade of Gaza. Israel says the soldiers acted in self defence.

A report will be presented to the council Sept. 27.

Another U.N. panel under New Zealand's ex-Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and Colombia's ex-President Alvaro Uribe is also examining the incident.


(2010-08-24/The Canadian Press)