UN rights office urges inquiry into Qaddafi death

UN human rights spokesman says it is unclear how the deposed Libyan leader was killed.


Reuters October 21, 2011

GENEVA: The United Nations human rights office called on Friday for a full investigation into the death of Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi.

"It is unclear how he died. There is a need for an investigation," UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville told a news briefing in Geneva.

Referring to separate cell phone images showing a wounded Gaddafi first alive and then later dead amidst a jumble of anti-Gaddafi fighters after his capture in his hometown of Sirte on Thursday, he added: "Taken together, they were very disturbing."

An international commission of inquiry, launched by the UN Human Rights Council, is already investigating killings, torture and other crimes in Libya.

Colville said he expected that the team would look into the circumstances of Qaddafi's death.

"It is a fundamental principle of international law that people accused of serious crimes should if possible be tried. Summary executions are strictly illegal. It is different if someone is killed in combat," he told Reuters Television.

COMMENTS (6)

j. von hettlingen | 12 years ago | Reply

Well, the interim government, the National Transitional Council has always show the world that they are a respectable and civilised bunch. Based on this impression they made Britain, France and the U.S. helped them to topple Gaddafi's regime. The way Gaddafi was executed raised doubts about the NTC's abilities to stop further vengence killings.

antanu g | 12 years ago | Reply

@Ashraf P: do you have any record of this so called butchering? people like you are slave to Western media..

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