United Nations may vote soon to help Iraq collect evidence against Islamic State

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. (Source: Reuters)

The Security Council is putting the final touches on a resolution that would authorise UN investigators to help Iraq collect evidence to prosecute extremists from the Islamic State group for possible war crimes. A council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations are private, said on Saturday the council hopes to vote next Thursday. The draft resolution would ask Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to establish an investigative team to assist Iraq in preserving evidence “that may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide” committed by IS.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari wrote to Guterres last month saying it was working on a draft resolution with Britain. Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney had urged Iraq’s prime minister in March to send a letter seeking UN assistance.