UN rights chief seeks int'l role in probe of Sri Lanka war

The U.N.'s top human rights official is urging the creation of a special court including foreign magistrates and investigators to look into atrocities committed during Sri Lanka’s  civil war.

Unveiling a long-awaited report aimed at helping Sri Lanka reconcile, Zeid Raad al-Hussein pointed to ``horrific'' abuses including torture, executions, sexual abuse by security forces; and suicide attacks, assassinations and recruitment of child soldiers by rebels. In a 270-page report focusing on the period from 2002 to 2011, he called Wednesday for a ``special hybrid court'' that would include foreign judges and investigators.

The report comes as the United States prepares to co-sponsor a resolution at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva seeking to improve accountability in Sri Lanka.

Rights groups and some governments want an international investigation, but Sri Lanka has resisted,  saying it would handle the matter  domestically. Meanwhile Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera announced the launch of a truth and reconciliation commission modeled partly on one in post-apartheid South Africa.

The quarter-century civil war ended in 2009.  At least 80,000 people were killed, and possibly many more, including up to 40,000 civilians in the last month of the war, according to U.N. estimates. (AP)