U.N. launches Sri Lanka war crimes investigation

A man, carrying depictions of U.S. President Barack Obama, protests against the UN and U.S resolution against Sri Lankan war crimes, during a demonstration march towards the U.S embassy in Colombo March 26, 2014. Sri Lanka questioned the independence of the human rights office of the United Nations on March 5, a day after the United States asked the U.N. to investigate human rights violations by the Sri Lankan government. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations on Thursday launched an inquiry into war crimes allegedly committed by both Sri Lankan state forces and Tamil rebels during their conflict that ended in 2009, saying the government had failed to investigate properly.

By a vote of 23 states in favour, 12 against and 12 abstentions, the 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council adopted a resolution presented by the United States on behalf of countries including Britain.