Sri Lanka risks war crimes probe

Sri Lanka could be hauled before a war crimes tribunal over the killing of 'many thousands of civilians' in the final months of its separatist war with Tamil rebels, a top US official says.

In the toughest warning since the end of fighting in May 2009, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert Blake, said Sri Lanka risked a forced international investigation.

His remarks came as the UN Human Rights Council was meeting in Geneva, where Sri Lanka has previously managed to avoid condemnation thanks to the backing of several nations, including strong allies China and Russia.

Blake, a former ambassador to Sri Lanka, said it was 'preferable' for Sri Lanka to have its own investigation in line with internationally accepted human rights standards, rather than face an external inquiry.

http://www.skynews.com.au/world/article.aspx?id=583553&vId=

http://www.state.gov/p/sca/rls/rmks/2011/157461.htm