World church grouping calls for UN 'war crimes' probe in Middle East

Geneva (ENI). The World Council of Churches has called for a United Nations investigation into possible war crimes committed during the Lebanon-Israel conflict, and into the transfer of arms used in violations of human rights. In a statement, the WCC central committee said it was "alarmed at violations of international law on armed conflict by the combatants in this war and by the international community's failure to ensure the protection of civilians and the proportionate use of military force". It was also alarmed "by the Israeli military's extensive use of cluster munitions in south Lebanon particularly when a cease-fire was already imminent".