Gaddafi Dead: Videos Spark UN Call for Probe Into Dictator’s Horrific End (VIDEO)

By CP News Briefs, Friday, October 21, 2011

An investigation into the death of Libyan tyrant Muammar Gaddafi has been called for by the U.N. human rights office today.

Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for 42 years, was killed Thursday after being captured by troops from the National Transitional Council in his hometown of Sirte. It has not yet been confirmed how exactly the events leading to his death unfolded, but CNN reports that he was shot as his captors tried to load him into a vehicle and drive away.

Rupert Colville, spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said today: "We believe there is a need for an investigation.”

Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Rupert continued: "More details are needed to ascertain whether he was killed in some form of fighting or was executed after his capture.

"The two cell phone videos that have emerged, one of him alive, and one of him dead, taken together are very disturbing."

Gaddafi will not be buried until his death is examined by the International Criminal Court, according to a Libyan official. The investigation will look into the circumstances surrounding Gaddafi’s death.

Earlier this year, the U.N. Human Rights Council established an independent panel to investigate the abuses and crimes in Libya. The panel, which includes Canadian judge Philippe Kirsch who is the first president of the International Criminal Court, has not yet determined whether the investigation will take place at a national or international level.

According to AP, Colville was asked if Libya was capable of carrying out an independent investigation into the 69-year-old’s death in which he replied: “The dust hasn’t settled yet.”

He continued: "You can't just chuck the law out of the window. Killing someone outside a judicial procedure, even in countries where there is the death penalty, is outside the rule of law."

Colville said Gaddafi’s victims deserve to see proper judicial procedures followed.

"Of course there are many others apart from Col. Gaddafi, so there may at least be some kind of court proceedings where we do all learn what happened and who is responsible," he said.

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO CONTENT