Sep 29, 2016

The bid to launch an international probe into the conflict in Yemen failed Thursday, in a defeat for the UN rights chief who demanded an inquiry.

Rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said last month that a fully independent, international investigation was needed to end impunity for a raft of grave violations against the Yemeni people.

A group of European states, led by the Netherlands, then spearheaded a push at the UN Human Rights Council for a resolution setting up an international inquiry.

Saudi Arabia, which is leading a military coalition in support of the Yemen's government against Iran-backed Huthi rebels, has been staunchly opposed to such a probe.

In the end, the EU-backed resolution was scrapped, leaving only a competing and far milder text on the table, drafted by Sudan.