The South Korean parliament on Saturday decided to launch an investigation into allegations that the government bungled attempts to rescue a South Korean man seized and beheaded in Iraq, reported Yonhap.

Leaders of the ruling Uri Party and the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) planned to hold a meeting later in the day to work out details on the investigation, according to the South Korean news agency.

A lawmaker from the governing party was quoted as saying that it is seeking to lose no time in finding the truth about the government's rescue efforts.

A 15-member government team has already been formed to audit several government agencies, including the Foreign and Defense Ministries, the National Security Council and the main government spy agency, the National Intelligence Service.

The investigation is aimed at shedding light on all facts leading to the kidnapping and beheading of Kim Sun-il, a 33-year-old Arabic interpreter for Cana General Trading Co., a supplier tothe US military.

Kim was slain shortly after the South Korean government turneddown the captors' demand to withdraw its plan to send more troops to Iraq.

It is reported that Foreign Ministry officials received a pressquery about Kim as early as June 3.

Source:Xinhua