http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1963000/1963214.stm

UN abandons Jenin probe

Houses were reduced to rubble in the army offensive
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has confirmed that he
intends to disband the planned fact-finding mission into
what happened at the Jenin refugee camp during the
recent Israeli offensive.

The move follows days of wrangling and delays to the
mission after Israel raising a series of objections to its
mandate.

The Palestinians allege that a massacre took place at the camp during the week-long
assault there - something Israel denies.

In a letter to the 15-member body, Kofi Annan said he intended to disband the UN
mission on Thursday. The letter was delivered as the Council began to discuss the
issue.

With US backing, the Council had already appointed former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari to lead the 20-member mission. He and his team had gathered in
Geneva waiting to be given the go-ahead.

Truth unknown

Announcing the decision Mr Annan said he regretted
that abandoning the mission meant "the long shadow
cast by recent events in the Jenin refugee camp will
remain."

He also warned that with the situation in the West Bank
constantly changing, "it will become more and more
difficult to establish with any confidence or accuracy the
recent events that took place there".

When the plan for the mission was first mooted Israel had welcomed the idea, insisting it had nothing to hide.

But there was soon a change of heart, with Israel demanding changes in both the team's make-up and terms of reference.

Speaking on ABC television's "Nightline" on Wednesday Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
rejected allegations that his government were trying to hide a massacre.

"We do not have anything to hide. The Israeli armed forces have got very high values," he said.

Bias accusations

He also accused the UN of anti-Israeli bias. "I never saw
that the United Nations was so determined to send
fact-finding commission to other places," he said.

"They didn't send to see what happened in the
Passover Eve when 28 people were killed," he added,
referring to a suicide bombing in the Israeli city of
Netanya.

In Washington, the Bush
administration expressed
regret over the abandoning
of the mission.

"The US and other UN
Security Council members
worked to facilitate an
agreement concerning
Secretary-General Annan's
initiative. We regret that it
did not work out," said
Sean McCormack,
spokesman for the White
House National Security
Council.