Africa

Special Rapporteur says the manner of the deposed Libyan leader's killing could be a war crime.
The UN has called for an international investigation into the death of Muammar Gaddafi, the deposed Libyan leader, saying it could have been a war crime.

Christof Heyns, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, told Al Jazeera on Friday that a proper investigation into the exact events surrounding Gaddafi’s death was a key test for Libya’s future as a democratic and accountable state.

“The Geneva conventions are very clear that when prisoners are taken they may not be executed willfully and if that was the case then we are dealing with a war crime, something that should be tried.”

“It’s important that the new government will be placed on a solid basis where there is accountability for illegal actions. I think it would be good if there was international investigation into this as well, and it’s not simply Mr Gaddafi but also there’s the dangers of reprisals against others as well and that is where it is important to draw the line to say that new system in place one of accountability.”

Libya's National Transitional Council delayed Gaddafi's burial on Firday in order to arrange a secret location and allow for an investigation into his death, officials said.

Mohamed Sayeh, a senior member of the NTC, told the Associated Press news agency that a "third party will come from outside of Libya to go through the paperwork" relating to Gaddafi's death....

thivest.com