Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and several Arab foreign ministers are being asked to attend a special UN human rights session in Geneva next week which will examine the latest violence between Palestinians and Israelis, an Arab diplomatic source said Wednesday.
Muhammad Saleh Dembri, ambassador from Algeria whose country represents Arab League countries at the United Nations, said the Palestinian territories' representative had asked "to have President Arafat here in Geneva," and foreign ministers from Arab countries.
But he stressed "there is nothing clear till now" on whether they will attend or not.
The special session of the UN Commission on Human Rights -- opposed by Washington -- will start next Wednesday and is expected to last at least two days.
It was requested last week by the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and approved Tuesday by 48 of the 53 members states. The United States voted against, Canada abstained and three countries, Botswana, Liberia and Russia, did not respond.
The Algerian ambassador said Arab countries want the Commission to determine who was initially responsible for the latest outbreak of violence, and to call for an end to what it deems the disproportionate use of force by the Israeli army against the Palestinians.
The meeting could result in a visit to the region by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, they said.
The Commission already decided to send UN human rights rapporteur Giorgi Giacomelli to the region. He was to arrive Wednesday on a five-day visit to investigate allegations of human rights violations, said Veronique Taveau.
Diplomatic efforts have been stepped up in a bid to calm the bloody clashes which broke out nearly two weeks ago and have resulted in nearly 100 deaths, mainly of Palestinians and Arab Israelis.
The Human Rights Commission generally holds annual meetings for six weeks in March and April -- GENEVA (AFP)
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