Politics

Push for Yemen investigation, says Amnesty

10:13 am on 10 October 2015

Amnesty International is calling on New Zealand to use its seat on the United Nations Security Council to push for an independent investigation into the conflict in Yemen.

The United Nations' headquarters in Geneva. Photo: 123RF

Its advocacy and research co-ordinator, Carsten Bockemuehl, said a Saudi-Arabia-led coalition had been bombing civilians in Yemen and using outlawed cluster munitions too.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully Photo: RNZ

Mr Bockemuehl said there was evidence Saudi Arabia had been commiting war crimes in Yemen, and New Zealand had a responsibility to call for an immediate investigation.

Amnesty said an independent investigation into the recent bombing of a hospital in Afghanistan by the United States was also needed.

The Foreign Minister has declined to say whether New Zealand will acquiesce to their demands.

Murray McCully said New Zealand was deeply concerned by the ongoing violence in Yemen and was using its Security Council role to raise concerns about civilian casualties.