The United Nations confirmed Tuesday that its Commission on Human Rights will convene a special session on October 18 to examine the violence raging between Palestinians and Israelis in the Middle East.
The session, requested last week by the Arab League, was approved during a meeting here by 48 of the Commission's 53 member states and will last for three days, the UN in Geneva said.
The United States voted against, Canada abstained, and three countries, Russia, Botswana and Liberia, did not vote.
The permanent delegation of the Arab league in Geneva welcomed the news of the meeting and hoped that "during this session universal conscience is expressed and strongly condemns the actions of Israel, the occupying force."
The session could result in a visit to the region by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, according to diplomatic sources.
The Commission, which which normally meets annually for six weeks in March and April, decided to send a special human rights envoy, Giorgio Giacomelli, to the Palestinian territories on Wednesday.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has said that he would only resume dialogue with Barak if there is agreement on an international commission to look into the causes of the last six days of bloodshed -- GENEVA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
