SECRETARY-GENERAL INITIATES INVESTIGATION CONCERNING UNIFIL VIDEOTAPE

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has decided to initiate an internal investigation into the facts surrounding the videotape taken by the Indian Battalion of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) a few hours after the attack across the “blue line” in which three Israeli Defence Force soldiers were taken captive by Hizbollah.  The investigation will also look into the subsequent handling of the tape, and exchanges with the Israeli Government.  The Secretary-General has asked Joseph Connor, Under-Secretary-General for Management, to conduct the investigation.  Mr. Connor has been asked to report to the Secretary-General as soon as possible.

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