UN to discuss Mideast violence

The United Nations Human Rights Commission is holding an emergency session in Geneva later today to discuss the violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Arab and Muslim countries requested the special session -- only the fifth in the commission's history.

They are sponsoring a draft resolution calling for the setting up of an inquiry into the causes of the violence.

Israel, which is not a member of the fifty-three-nation commission, has criticised the session -- saying it will not help to end the violence.

Yesterday, the human rights group, Amnesty International, accused the Israelis of using excessive force in efforts to control demonstrations and disturbances.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service