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Dag Hammarskjold death: UN 'should reopen inquiry' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A commission looking into the death of former United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold has recommended that the UN reopen its investigation. | A commission looking into the death of former United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold has recommended that the UN reopen its investigation. |
Mr Hammarskjold's plane was travelling to Congo on a peace mission in 1961 when it crashed in Zambia. | Mr Hammarskjold's plane was travelling to Congo on a peace mission in 1961 when it crashed in Zambia. |
A UN investigation in 1962 failed to find the cause of the mysterious crash. | A UN investigation in 1962 failed to find the cause of the mysterious crash. |
The commission said there were significant new findings, and that the US National Security Agency might hold crucial evidence. | The commission said there were significant new findings, and that the US National Security Agency might hold crucial evidence. |
In a statement, the UN thanked the commission and said the UN secretariat would study its findings closely. | |
It said Mr Hammarskjold had given "unparalleled service to the UN and paid the ultimate price", and that it was "among those most concerned in arriving at the whole truth". | |
The Swedish-born diplomat's plane crashed on 18 September in a forest near Ndola in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. | The Swedish-born diplomat's plane crashed on 18 September in a forest near Ndola in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. |
All but one of the passengers and crew on the flight were killed. | All but one of the passengers and crew on the flight were killed. |
Mr Hammarskjold was trying to negotiate a peace agreement between Congo's Soviet-backed government and Moise Tshombe, who had declared independence for its mineral-rich province of Katanga. | Mr Hammarskjold was trying to negotiate a peace agreement between Congo's Soviet-backed government and Moise Tshombe, who had declared independence for its mineral-rich province of Katanga. |
The UN secretary general was going to Ndola to meet Mr Tshombe, who was backed by former colonial power Belgium and some Western mining interests. | The UN secretary general was going to Ndola to meet Mr Tshombe, who was backed by former colonial power Belgium and some Western mining interests. |
Three investigations have failed to determine the cause of the crash, and many conspiracy theories have swirled around Mr Hammarskjold's death. | Three investigations have failed to determine the cause of the crash, and many conspiracy theories have swirled around Mr Hammarskjold's death. |
Two investigations held in the British-run Central African Federation, which included Northern Rhodesia, were followed by an official UN inquiry which concluded that foul play could not be ruled out. | Two investigations held in the British-run Central African Federation, which included Northern Rhodesia, were followed by an official UN inquiry which concluded that foul play could not be ruled out. |
The Hammarskjold Commission report, written by four international lawyers, said there was "significant new evidence". | The Hammarskjold Commission report, written by four international lawyers, said there was "significant new evidence". |
It said the claim of an aerial attack, which might have caused the descent of the plane by direct damage or by harassment, was capable of being proved or disproved. | It said the claim of an aerial attack, which might have caused the descent of the plane by direct damage or by harassment, was capable of being proved or disproved. |
The report said that given the NSA's worldwide monitoring activities at that time, "it is highly likely" that the radio traffic on 18-19 September 1961 was recorded by the NSA and possibly also by the CIA. | The report said that given the NSA's worldwide monitoring activities at that time, "it is highly likely" that the radio traffic on 18-19 September 1961 was recorded by the NSA and possibly also by the CIA. |
The report said: "Authenticated recordings of any such cockpit narrative or radio messages, if located, would furnish potentially conclusive evidence of what happened to the DC6." | The report said: "Authenticated recordings of any such cockpit narrative or radio messages, if located, would furnish potentially conclusive evidence of what happened to the DC6." |
The Commission said it had made Freedom of Information Act requests to the National Security Archive, which were rejected on national security grounds - but that an appeal had been lodged. | The Commission said it had made Freedom of Information Act requests to the National Security Archive, which were rejected on national security grounds - but that an appeal had been lodged. |
The report concluded that Mr Hammarskjold's death was "an event of global significance which deserves the attention both of history and of justice". | The report concluded that Mr Hammarskjold's death was "an event of global significance which deserves the attention both of history and of justice". |