UN human rights investigators seek access to Syria

Chairman of the UN's Commission of Inquiry on Syria Paulo Pinheiro answers questions during a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on Oct 25, 2012. Members of the UN's Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Syria on Thursday said they have decided to send a letter to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to demand a meeting with the Syrian leader.[Photo/Xinhua]

GENEVA - Members of the UN's Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Syria on Thursday said they have decided to send a letter to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to demand a meeting with the Syrian leader.

"We expect he will receive us in Damascus," the commission's chair Paulo Pinheiro told reporters.

The UN Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the CoI on Syria, which was established in September 2011, at its 21st session on Sept 28 and appointed the two new commissioners.

Pinheiro also said he was happy that Swiss diplomat Carla del Ponte and Thai expert and veteran UN investigator Vitit Muntarbhorn had joined the commission. He said he expected them to continue to do the same research and build evidence for future judicial initiatives.

The Syria conflict has been raging on for the past 19 months. The UN has called for a ceasefire during the Eid al-Adha holiday.