[JURIST] Benon Sevan [UN profile], the former head of the UN Oil-for-Food Program [official website], resigned from his current honorary position at the UN Sunday one day before an independent panel [Independent Inquiry Committee website] investigating corruption charges and program irregularities was due to present a new report on its findings. In a letter to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Sevan, who has denied earlier panel allegations that he received cash and oil allocations, said "I fully understand the pressure you are under [...] but sacrificing me for political expediency will never appease our critics or help you or the Organization." BBC News has more.

[JURIST] British police Sunday charged three more individuals, including two alleged bombers, in the ongoing investigation into the July 21 attempted terror bombings in London. Muktar Said Ibrahim, 27, and Ramzi Mohammed, 23 were charged with conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to cause explosions and possession of an explosive substance. Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, 32, was charged with conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions after he was linked to an unexploded device found in a west London park. Sunday's charges mean that with counts made Saturday against Yassin Hassan Omar [JURIST report], all three of the suspected bombers still in the UK have now been charged. A fourth suspected bomber arrested last week in Italy is facing extradition [JURIST report] under a European warrant. BBC News has more.

[JURIST] Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told reporters Saturday that he would consider invoking administrative detention [Amnesty International overview] - traditionally used against Palestinians, allowing them to be held without charge or trial - against all extremists, including Jews, who participate in illegal protests designed to disturb the upcoming Gaza pullout. Earlier this month, the commissioner of Israel's prison system announced that detention facilities are prepared to hold as many as 2,300 anti-pullout protestors [JURIST report]. AP has more.

[JURIST] The US ambassador to Iraq met with interim Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari Saturday, warned that the US would not tolerate a new Iraqi constitution that would oppress women or other religious sects. Zalmay Khalilzad [US Department of State profile] delivered the message one day after Al-Jaafari met with several Shiite clerics [JURIST report] who communicated their hope that Islam become the main source of legislation in the pending constitution. Khalilzad told reporters that he "assured [Al-Jaafari] that the United States believes strongly that the Iraqi constitution should provide equal rights before the law for all Iraqis regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion or sect". Reuters has more.

[JURIST] AP is reporting that Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resigned unexpectedly Sunday to protest next week's Gaza pullout [JURIST report]. Netanyahu cited the danger of terror operations that could be launched against Israel from the ceded territory if the pullout occured. Despite the resignation, the Israeli cabinet gave final approval Sunday to the removal of a first group of Jewish settlers from the area.

[JURIST] All legal proceedings in the West Bank and Gaza came to an abrupt halt Saturday after all Palestinian Authority judges went on strike. According to reports, the judges went on strike after repeated calls for increased courtroom and personal security were not met. Last week, the home of Chief Justice Zuhair al-Surani was attacked [Reuters report], and a bomb damaged the home of Attorney General Hussein Abu Asi. Al-Surani later told reporters that he had resigned in protest at what he called "lawlessness in the courts", although whether he had actually submitted a formal resignation to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is unclear. Reuters has more.

[JURIST] Officials in London have issued the first set of formal charges in the failed July 21 London bombings [JURIST news archive]. Somali national Yassin Hassan Omar was charged Saturday with four criminal counts, including conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, and possession of explosives. Human rights groups in Britain have questioned whether any of the bombing suspects can receive a fair trial [JURIST report] in light of the firestorm of negative and even vitriolic UK media coverage of the terror attacks. Reuters has more.