UN launches flotilla attack probe

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137185§ionid=351020202


UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says that a committee will begin its investigation of Israel's deadly attack against a Gaza-bound aid convoy this month.

The panel will begin its work on August 10, three months after the May 31 assault, in which nine Turkish peace activists of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla were killed by Israeli commandos in international waters.

"I sincerely hope that this will greatly, positively contribute to the peace process as well as improvement of relations between Israel and Turkey," Ban said on Monday.

The UN chief added that the panel would submit the first progress report by mid September.

The panel will be led by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer as the chairman, and outgoing Colombian President Alvaro Uribe as the vice chairman.

A Turkish and an Israeli were also in the panel.

Meanwhile, Israel announced on Monday that it would cooperate with the UN committee, despite its earlier opposition.

The Tel Aviv regime had rejected calls for an international independent investigation into the commando assault, and launched an internal probe of the attack.