[JURIST] The Afghan government has adopted a plan to investigate war crimes and human rights violations committed from 1978 until the end of the Taliban rule. The Action Plan for Peace, Reconciliation and Justice in Afghanistan comes after months of pressure from international human rights groups [JURIST report]. Members of the new parliament [JURIST report] are among those accused. In a July report [text], Human Rights Watch [advocacy website] called for President Hamid Karzai [BBC profile] to establish a special court to try people accused of committing atrocities in the civil war. The adopted plan does not specifically provide for a tribunal, but it allows for the possibility of either a truth and reconciliation commission or a criminal court. The plan has been seen as a major step forward, especially because it rules out granting immunity to anyone for past crimes. BBC News has more.