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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