U.N. rights investigators seek facts on bin Laden death [View All]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - U.N. human rights investigators called on the United States on Friday to disclose whether there had been any plan to capture Osama bin Laden and if he was offered any "meaningful prospect of surrender and arrest."

Principles of engagement in such operations require the possibility of surrender, firing warning shots and if necessary wounding a suspect, rather than killing him, they said.

Failure to comply could amount to a "cold-blooded execution" but the overall situation must be taken into account, including whether U.S. forces were under attack, said Martin Scheinin, U.N. special rapporteur on protecting human rights while countering terrorism.

"We are just saying the U.S. government should answer questions concerning whether a meaningful prospect of surrender and arrest was given by the U.S., but perhaps not taken by Osama bin Laden," Scheinin told Reuters in a telephone interview.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/06/us-binladen-un-experts-idUSTRE74545Q20110506