U.N. rights boss urges Tunisia to probe deaths and torture

GENEVA (Reuters) - U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay called on Tunisia on Thursday to investigate police killings of scores of civilians and voiced concerns that activists were being arrested and tortured.

Pillay told Reuters her office was prepared to help Tunisian authorities to investigate any excessive use of force and bring perpetrators to justice.

"We are trying to verify the number killed. Human rights organizations report almost 40 killed. So clearly that is a result of some excessive measures used, such as snipers, the indiscriminate killing of peaceful protesters," she said.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay)