(CNN) -- The United Nations Human Rights Council urged Sri Lanka Thursday to thoroughly investigate allegations of atrocities committed during the island nation's long and brutal civil war. The Geneva-based U.N. body adopted a U.S.-initiated resolution calling on the Sri Lankan government to "initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans." The measure was adopted in a 24-15 vote; eight nations abstained. Sri Lanka's 26-year war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels, otherwise known as the Tamil Tigers, ended three years ago when government forces declared victory. A U.N. report last year found credible allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both sides during the final stages of the fighting.
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The U.N. Human Rights Council urged Sri Lanka to probe alleged war crimes
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A report last year blamed the government as well as the Tamil Tigers
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The U.S.-initiated resolution was adopted in a 24-15 vote
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The U.N. says Sri Lanka must hold accountable perpetrators of alleged war crimes
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Many civilians were killed in the final phases of the war because of government shelling, the @placeholder report found.