Christof Heyns, the U.N.‘s independent investigator on extrajudicial killings, had asked the United States to lay out the legal basis and accountability procedures for the use of armed drones. He also wanted the U.S. to publish figures on the number of civilians killed in drone strikes against suspected terror leaders in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere.

After a two-day „interactive dialogue“ with U.S. officials at the United Nations in Geneva, Heyns said he was still waiting for a satisfactory reply.