UN team to disband as Jenin inquiry is derailed

THE United Nations was last night preparing to disband the team investigating Palestinian claims of a massacre during the Israeli army assault on the Jenin refugee camp after Israel refused to let it start work.

The Israeli security cabinet had earlier decided that Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, had not met its demands for amending the mission's mandate, "so there is no possibility of beginning the inquiry".

In New York Mr Annan denied the Israeli government's charges. "We've really done everything to meet them, to deal with their concerns. I think we've been very forthcoming," he said.