The UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday passed a resolution to send a high-level inquiry mission to Sudan's war-torn Darfur region to investigate human rights abuses there.

After two days of tough discussion, the council agreed to send a probing mission to Darfur that will be composed of six members, including one UN special reporter of Sudan's human rights situation and five "highly qualified" members whom will be named by the council chairman after discussions with council member states.

The mission will submit the results of investigation to the council by March next year.

The resolution also welcomed the Darfur peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the rebel militia groups and urged all signing parties to implement the agreement and cease fire.

It also called on the Sudanese government to strengthen cooperation with the UN Human Rights Council and the United Nations' High Commission for Human Rights.

In New York, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said in a statement he was "pleased" the council had taken robust action to address the grave human rights situation in Darfur.

"The decision ... sends a united message that the ongoing violence and killing in Darfur is unacceptable and must stop," Annan said.

This is the first time the Human Rights Council has held a special session discussing Darfur human rights crisis since it was established in June.

(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2006)