UN team beginning Jenin fact-finding mission

A UN fact-finding team is heading to the Middle East to establish what happened in the Jenin refugee camp during the Israeli incursion.

Palestine claim a massacre occurred there, while Israel says most of the dead were militiamen.

Israel has expressed concern the team won't look at the reasons for its incursion - deadly attacks on Israeli civilians.

Israel's cabinet is due to meet to decide on how the country will cooperate.

After initially welcoming the committee, Israel raised objections over its composition and mandate.

Foreign Minister Shimon Peres met last night with Israeli government legal and political advisers to discuss the UN team ahead of the Cabinet meeting.

Yoram Dori, spokesman for Mr Peres, quoted the foreign minister as saying afterward that "an opportunity has been created for Israel to refute the blood libel against (Israeli) soldiers and commanders that a massacre was committed in Jenin."