The UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday passed a resolution to
send a high-level inquiry mission to Sudan's war-torn Darfur region
to investigate human rights abuses there.
After two days of tough discussion, the council agreed to send a
probing mission to Darfur that will be composed of six members,
including one UN special reporter of Sudan's human rights situation
and five "highly qualified" members whom will be named by the
council chairman after discussions with council member states.
The mission will submit the results of investigation to the
council by March next year.
The resolution also welcomed the Darfur peace agreement between
the Sudanese government and the rebel militia groups and urged all
signing parties to implement the agreement and cease fire.
It also called on the Sudanese government to strengthen
cooperation with the UN Human Rights Council and the United
Nations' High Commission for Human Rights.
In New York, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said in a statement
he was "pleased" the council had taken robust action to address the
grave human rights situation in Darfur.
"The decision ... sends a united message that the ongoing
violence and killing in Darfur is unacceptable and must stop,"
Annan said.
This is the first time the Human Rights Council has held a
special session discussing Darfur human rights crisis since it was
established in June.
(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2006)
