UN rights chief says international probe needed into Khashoggi killing

The UN human rights chief says an international investigation is needed into the “awful” killing of Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Michelle Bachelet makes the comments at a news conference Wednesday timed for the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, alluding to similar calls from outside experts linked to the UN human rights office.

“We also call for international investigation,” she says. “We mentioned to the (UN) secretary-general that we thought it was needed, a criminal investigation — international investigation.”

She says her office doesn’t have the mandate to conduct a criminal investigation, however.

“I do believe that it’s really needed in terms of ensuring what really happened and who are the responsible for that awful killing.”

— AP