"The UN human rights office is due to deploy a three-member delegation to Yemen on Monday for a 10-day mission to assess the human rights situation in the country in light of recent events," spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a news briefing.

The team of experts, whose names are not being disclosed for security reasons, are staff of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay. Her office has sought access to Yemen to make an independent assessment since the crisis began in March and the mission comes at Sanaa's invitation.

The experts will talk to Yemeni government officials, activists, victims of human rights violations, political opposition members and religious leaders during the June 27-July 6 mission, a UN statement said.

"The team will also try to meet internally displaced persons and intends to visit medical facilities and detention centers in a number of cities," it said.

In the southern port city of Aden on Friday, Yemeni forces backed by tanks fired on a funeral procession for a young man beaten to death in police custody, killing at least one person.

The burial of 25-year-old Ahmed Darwish turned into an anti-government protest by tens of thousands of people calling for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Similar protests were held around the nation, including in the capital, Sanaa.

Darwish was arrested in a mass roundup by security forces last year. It does not appear he was involved in any political activism or with the southern secessionist movement that has simmered for years in Yemen, but his death became a rallying point for those fed up with abuses by security forces.

A forensic report published by rights groups found that Darwish was tortured to death in June of last year, and his family had refused to bury him until an investigation was concluded. A court ruling on Sunday found three policemen guilty in his killing and determined that Darwish died of beatings with metal objects, said his brother, Anwar. The policemen have not been sentenced.

As Friday's funeral turned into an angry demonstration, government forces moved in to disperse the crowds. At least one person was killed by gunfire and six others were wounded. "We are witnessing a second funeral now and a new misery that involves the killing of innocents," said Anwar Darwish.