This could be the first step in establishing a United Nations tribunal to try cases of violations of human rights and other crimes in the period following the referendum in East Timor during which the territory overwhelming voted for independence.

The pro-Indonesian militias were alleged to have gone on rampage after the vote, indulging in killings and large scale arson and destruction.

The Geneva-based UN Commission on Human Rights had adopted a resolution in September for sending a commission of experts to gather information on possible violations committed in East Timor since the decision in January 1999 to hold a popular vote on the territory's future.

The resolution was supported by Commisioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson.However, Indonesia had rejected the international inquiry,questioning the legality of the September meeting and the the impartiality of Robinson.ECOSOC's decision calls for an adequate representation of Asian experts in the inquiry panel, which will carry out its work in cooperation with the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights and the UN commission's thematic rapporteurs.

By a related provision in the text, ECOSOC noted the special rapporteurs on executions, torture and violence against women, the Secretary-General's representative on internally displaced persons, as well as the working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances carry out missions to East Timor and report their findings to the commission at its 56th session, and on an interim basis, to the General Assembly at its current session.

The council also requested Robinson to prepare a comprehensive programme of technical cooperation in human rights, focussing especially on capacity-building and reconciliation with a view to a durable solution to the problems in East Timor.