Amsterdam - Proceedings in the trial of former Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga Dyilo began in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on Monday.

Lubanga, 48, faces charges of recruiting child soldiers during the brutal civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 1998 and 2008.

He is the first suspect to be brought for trial before the court, which is the world's first permanent tribunal authorized to deal with serious war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Geneva, Jan 24 : United Nations Relief and Works Agency chief John Ging has said that a credible investigation of the death and destruction in Gaza was necessary especially in light of the growing anger of Gazans, the increasing number of extremists in the Strip and their lack of faith in the rule of law.

It is urgent to establish accountability for death and the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure through a credible mechanism, which would "channel this emotion to confidence in the rule of law," The Jerusalem Post quoted Ging, as saying.

New York  - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday expressed confidence and optimism about the new US President Barack Obama, citing his commitment to addressing the "multiple crises of food, energy and human development."

"It is with great optimism that I congratulate Barack Obama on his inauguration as the 44th President of the United States," Ban said in a statement.

New York - The outspoken UN General Assembly president on Thursday accused the world body of "direct complicity" in the tragedy unfolding in Gaza Strip, which began
19 months ago with the Israeli blockade of the territory with 1.5 million Palestinians.

Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, president of the 192-nation assembly, opened a one-day debate on the crisis in Gaza, lashing out at Israel and some UN Security Council members for the current fighting.

He said the UN has failed to protect the population in Gaza.

Brussels - The European Commission expressed "shock and dismay" Thursday at the shelling by Israel of a United Nations compound in the Gaza Strip and called for an independent probe into the incident.

"It is unacceptable that the UN headquarters in Gaza have been struck by Israeli artillery fire," said the EU's commissioner for humanitarian aid, Louis Michel.

"This is a very serious incident and there must be a full and independent investigation," he said in a statement.

Amman - King Abdullah II of Jordan conferred Wednesday with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and stressed the need for the world community to give "immediate priority" to stopping the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, according to a royal court statement.