Yesterday, Sir Michael Marshall, mp for arundel, returned from an unusual humanitarian mission to the former Yugoslavia. In his capacity as president of the council of 124 parliaments represented in the inter parliamentary union, he led an all party delegation to Belgrade, Zagreb and Ljubljana.

In all three capitals agreement was reached for the early despatch of an international human rights parliamentary delegation of the ipu to seek common agreement for the bringing to trial of those charged under the terms of un resolution 808 which has established an international war crimes tribunal. The mission would also seek the establishment of common forms of legislation and judicial procedure which might ensure amongst other things the rights of ethnic minorities, women and children and parliamentary immunity.

In belgrade, the team took up with the president of the yugoslav parliament the case of the leader of the opposition, Mr Vuk Draskovic, and his wife. Parliamentarians supporting the government confirmed that Mr and Mrs Draskovic had been severely beaten by police during protests at their parliament on 1 and 2 june so that the opposition leader's condition had been described by medical authorities as life threatening. The team's request for the opportunity of visiting mr draskovic was refused but they were able to meet the surgeon attending him who confirmed that his condition was now much improved.

In zagreb, the team raised with the human rights committee of the croatian parliament, the cases of missing persons arising from the abduction of 379 wounded patients from hospitals in Vukovar in 1991. Mothers and wives of the missing persons came to meet the british parliamentary team to appeal for their help and this matter has been referred to the authorities in both Belgrade and Zagreb as well as to british foreign office ministers.

Finally, in croatia, the team was able to express its concern at the lack of news in respect of mr graham noble, a young british visitor whose family is based in brighton. He was reported as detained facing spying charges but access for a visit has so far been refused. Further representations were made through the british ambassador and liaison is being maintained with mr noble's member of parliament, Mr Andrew Bowden.