U.N. welcomes probe into Gadhafi's death

GENEVA, Switzerland, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- U.N. human rights officials welcomed comments from Libya's transitional government that it would investigate the death of former leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Coroner reports indicate Gadhafi died of a bullet wound to the head. The circumstances surrounding his death, however, remain unclear since at least two videos showed him alive and in rebel custody.

Following a declaration of liberation during the weekend, the interim government said it would look into Gadhafi's death.

"This is a new beginning for Libya and the world is watching," said Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement. "Human rights were at the foundation of the protests that led to the ousting (of Gadhafi's regime)."

Gadhafi was wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes committed against the civilian population since February.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the chief prosecutor at the ICC, said he had evidence civilians were attacked in their homes, demonstrators were fired on with live ammunition and snipers were used to kill those leaving mosques.

Michael Scharf, an international legal expert and former U.S. State Department official, reports for CNN that summary executions of combatants detained and disarmed is a war crime.

He notes the ICC tends to examine only "large-scale commission" of grave crimes.

"That focus could change, however, if evidence emerges of a policy of widespread retaliatory killings by anti-Gadhafi forces, and if the ICC concludes that Gadhafi's death was a part of that policy," he reports.