Duterte invites UN chief to probe killings

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday invited the United Nations' chief and international human rights experts to investigate allegations of widespread extrajudicial killings, but insisted they also face him in a public debate.

The acid-tongued Duterte had earlier used vulgar language to dismiss criticism from the two organisations and the United States of his bloody war on crime, which has claimed over 3,000 lives since he took office on June 30.

"I have invited the (United Nations human rights) rapporteur, (UN chief) Ban Ki-moon, the EU, their lawyers to come here and investigate me," Duterte said in a speech, adding the formal invitations would be sent soon.

"But... after they question me, I will question them, one by one in open forum... then you will all see how I will beat those devils." The 71-year-old former city mayor won elections in a landslide in May after vowing to eradicate the illegal drug trade in six months.