UN demands Israel 'immediately' release activists

GENEVA — The United Nations on Wednesday urged Israel to immediately release two activists taken from a Gaza-bound flotilla, and demanded an investigation into "disturbing accounts" that they had been severely mistreated.

Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila, who are held in a prison in Ashkelon, were among dozens of activists on a Gazabound flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off the coast of Greece a week ago.