Sri Lanka war crimes investigation must be impartial with or without foreign judges - U.N. official

United Nations (U.N.) Human Rights High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein addresses a media briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, February 1, 2016. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

COLOMBO (Reuters) - The United Nations will not force Sri Lanka to accept a role for international judges in investigating possible war crimes during the 26-year Tamil insurgency but any process must be impartial and independent, the U.N. human rights chief said on Tuesday.

Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, ending a four-day visit to Sri Lanka to assess the investigation, commended some efforts by President Maithripala Sirisena's government but said much still needed to be done.