UN human rights chief Navi Pillay. — Photo by AFP

GENEVA: The circumstances surrounding the death of Libya's ousted despot Muammar Qadhafi are unclear and an investigation is needed, the UN human rights chief said Friday.

“On the issue of Qadhafi's death yesterday, the circumstances are still unclear,” Navi Pillay's spokesman Rupert Colville said.

“There should be some kind of investigation given what we saw yesterday.”

Question marks remained about how Qadhafi met his end — mobile phone footage appeared to show him captured bloodied but still alive and then killed by his captors.

“The two videos... taken together are very disturbing,” noted Colville.

Nevertheless, Qadhafi's death and the fall of Sirte has led to a “new era” for Libya.

“One key aspect to obtain closure on the legacy of Qadhafi would be to ensure that justice is done,” added the spokesman.