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Posted 11:00 PM
by Mary
U.N. Security Coordinator Asked To Resign In Wake Of Iraq Attack
.N. Security Coordinator Asked To Resign In Wake Of Iraq Attack
Monday, March 29, 2004 By Jim WurstU.N. Wire
UNITED NATIONS — An investigation of the security lapses that led to the Aug. 19, 2003, bombing in Baghdad that killed 22 U.N. employees, including Sergio Vieira de Mello, the U.N.'s top envoy to the country, spreads the blame for security failures on a number of high-ranking U.N. officials, including Deputy Secretary General Louise Frechette and de Mello himself.
Secretary General Kofi Annan this morning released a summary of the 150-page report that he received on March 3. The panel concluded that numerous officials "failed to grasp the magnitude of the deteriorating security situation in Baghdad," according to the summary. "They ignored the warning signs which were becoming more obvious each day."
[NOTE: Frechette offered, but her resignation was refused]
Posted 8:45 AM
by Mary
UN Wire: An Independent News Briefing About the UN: "Monday, March 15, 2004
Controversy over how much governments can curtail human rights in the name of fighting terrorism clouded the opening of the U.N. Human Rights Commission's six-week annual session in Geneva today, with the United States and its allies opposing moves by Mexico to appoint a U.N. expert to investigate whether countries violate human rights standards with anti-terror measures. The European Union, which usually votes as a bloc, is divided on the issue (Naomi Koppel, Associated Press, March 14).
Mike Smith, the Australian envoy presiding over the commission this year, opened the meeting this morning by reminding delegates of recent terrorist attacks in Spain, Iraq and Israel.
Human rights groups say anti-terrorism measures need to be scrutinized because suspects are often held without charge or extradited to countries where they could be tortured. They also criticized the commission as ineffective.
"Time and time again the commission has behaved in a highly fractious, self-interested, politically expedient manner, turning a blind eye to human rights violations and allowing perpetrators to operate with impunity," said Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan (Koppel, AP).
