THE United Nations investigation into the killing of 102 Lebanese civilians in the UN base at Qana will be completed by Monday, writes Jim Cusack from south Lebanon.
It will then be forwarded to the UN Secretary General, Dr Boutros Boutros Ghali, a senior officer said yesterday.
Brig Gen Franklyn van Kappen, the Secretary General's military adviser, was speaking during his week long visit to the area to inquire into the massacre.
Yesterday he visited the Irish battalion area as part of his inquiry and was briefed by the Irish battalion who provided assistance after the attack on the Fiji base in Qana. He said that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have co operated with his investigation and had allowed him access to the artillery unit which fired the shells.
He met the second in command of the IDF, Gen Vilnai, who permitted him to interview the artillery unit responsible.
"I asked Israel if I could visit the battery that actually fired the shots. The same day we went to the artillery battery that actually fired on Qana. I spoke to the regimental commander and some of the gunners. I asked to see some of their logs and data, and they gave us that as well."
He has also interviewed Fijian and Lebanese soldiers who were at Qana when six Israeli shells struck the base last Thursday. He would not make any comment on Unifil reports that the bombardment took place without warning and that it continued despite UN radio messages to the Israelis that people were being killed.
The UN investigation is being carried out with the assistance of four Irish officers in Lebanon: Col Sean Hurley, military adviser to the Force Commander of Unifil; Comdt Tom Carter, Unifil Liaison officer; Capt George O'Connell and Cpl Alan Kearney.
As many as 300 people are now believed to have been killed in southern Lebanon as a result of the two week Israeli bombardment known as Operation Grapes of Wrath.
Gen van Kappen would not disclose any of the views he has formed since beginning his inquiry and said he would make no further comment until he had reported to the Secretary General on Monday.