Independent inquiry launched into shipwreck that left hundreds of migrants feared dead

Greece's state ombudsman said Thursday that it's launching an independent investigation into the coast guard's handling of a maritime tragedy in June in which hundreds of migrants trying to reach Europe in an overloaded boat are feared to have drowned.

The independent authority said it took the decision following "the expressed denial" of the Greek coast guard to initiate a disciplinary investigation in response to the ombudsman's written requests.

The Council of Europe, the continent's most important human rights group, welcomed the move.

The council's human rights commissioner, Dunja Mijatović, said an independent probe to establish what happened and, if necessary, lead to the punishment of those responsible, is "of paramount importance."

"The initiative taken today by the Greek Ombudsman institution is a very important contribution to this effort,"...