Minister starts hunger strike to protest UN war crimes probe

AP - A Sri Lankan minister has started a hunger strike in front of the U.N. office to demand that the world body halt its investigation into alleged human rights abuses committed at the close of the country’s civil war.

The hunger strike by Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa follows demonstrations at the U.N. compound in Colombo earlier this week that trapped workers inside for hours.
Human rights groups have accused government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels of deliberately targeting civilians as fighting drew a close last year.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed a panel last month to advise him on accountability for the alleged atrocities. The world body rejected protester’s demands to halt the investigation.