Israel refuses to co-operate with UN human rights mission

The UN has called off a human rights mission to the Palestinian territories to look into rights abuses after Israeli authorities refused to co-operate.

The mission was ordered earlier this month following increasing concern about the human rights situation in the region.

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, however, told envoy Felipe Gonzalez there would be no co-operation, said human rights chief Mary Robinson.

Former Irish president Mrs Robinson had been trying to get permission to go, along with former Spanish Prime Minister Mr Gonzalez and South African businessman Cyril Ramaphosa.

Mrs Robinson said she would produce a report on "the deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territory on the basis of reports from all concerned organisations present in the occupied territories".

She said she would present the report to the commission before it concludes its six week session next Friday.