UN to Assess Human Rights in Yemen

Posted June 24th, 2011 at 7:20 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

The United Nations says it is sending a mission to Yemen next week to look at human rights issues.

The U.N. said Friday the three-member delegation would arrive in Yemen on Monday for a 10-day fact-finding mission. The U.N. said the group would attempt to assess the state of affairs in the turbulent country as various factions vie for power and Islamic militants stage frequent attacks on government security forces.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is recovering in Saudi Arabia from a recent bomb attack he sustained in the Yemeni presidential compound. Thousands of Yemenis have called for his ouster over the last several months in protests that have turned violent. Security forces have killed at least 200 people since January.

The U.N. said the delegation would meet with government authorities, rights activists, members of the opposition and victims of human rights violations. The group also is planning visits to medical and detention centers.

A U.N. spokeswoman said officials hope the mission will produce recommendations for the government.