Chair of U.N. probe of Gaza violence quits less than month into job
By REUTERS
AMSTERDAM/GENEVA - Former war crimes prosecutor David Crane, an American who was named only last month to lead a U.N. investigation into violence in Gaza this year, has resigned, the United Nations said.The U.N. said in a statement dated Aug. 22 that Crane had informed the Human Rights Council of his decision a day earlier, "due to a personal circumstance that has arisen" and that the Council was "considering next steps."Crane, a former senior U.S. legal official who served as chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone in 2002-2005, was named chair of the three-person inquiry on July 25.Crane, recently retired as a Syracuse University professor, worked for decades for the U.S. government, including as senior inspector general in the Department of Defense. When chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone he indicted the then Liberian leader Charles Taylor for war crimes.The remaining members of the Commission of Inquiry are Sara Hossain of Bangladesh, and Kaari Betty Murungi of Kenya. The commission is due to provide an update on its work to the Human Rights Council on Sept. 24.
90-year-old Ramat Gan man chokes on doughnut, in critical condition
