Qana killings could breach world law: UN

United Nations, Aug 9: Israel's deadly attack on the Lebanese village of Qana could be part of a "pattern of violations of international law", UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said, calling for a more comprehensive investigation into the July 30 bombardment.

Annan made his assessment in a letter to the Security Council calling for more information on the attack.

"The attack on Qana should be seen in the broader context of what could be, based on preliminary information available to the UN, including eyewitness accounts, a pattern of violations of international law, including international humanitarian law, committed during the course of the current hostilities," he said.

"I have repeatedly condemned all actions that target civilians and I again call on all parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and, in particular, to take all necessary precautions to spare civilian life and property." Expressing distress at the "tragic events" in Qana and the overall effect of the conflict on the civilian populations of both Israel and Lebanon, Annan said it was a "level of seriousness that requires further gathering of information, including violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law."