UN chief insists he cannot set up probe into Khashoggi killing

The UN Secretary General cannot set up an investigation into the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, his spokesman insisted, after a UN special rapporteur looking into the Saudi journalist's death called for him to set up a probe into the murder.

Agnes Callamard, the UN's special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Saudi officials should be investigated, in a report released on Wednesday.

Callamard called on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to set up a "follow-up criminal investigation" of the perpetrators and to come up with a mechanism for a tribunal.

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Guterres believes there needs to be a "full, transparent investigation," but that he is does not have the authority to launch it himself.

Guterres has consistently said he cannot set up such a probe without a mandate from a UN body or a request from an involved UN member state.

Several rights groups have argued that he can do so, but is choosing not to.    (dpa)