The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has considered the Saudi investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi "insufficient" and called for an international investigation into the crime.

This came a comment from UNHCR spokeswoman Rafina Shamdassani yesterday on the approval of the US Senate on a bill carrying Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsibility for the murder of Khashoggi.

Shamdassani pointed to the need to open an international investigation into the crime, as well as investigations by the Turkish authorities and Saudi Arabia, "because the crime was committed against a journalist criticizing the Saudi government and within the consulate of this government."

"There is a need for international intervention and we strongly support this and the title of any possible investigation of the case will be at United Nations Headquarters in New York," she said.

The US Senate unanimously approved on Thursday a decision to hold Saudi Crown Prince Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible for the killing of Khashoggi.

Voting on the Senate resolution is symbolic, and although the bill can not become law, it is a rebuke to Saudi Arabia.

The murder of the Saudi journalist at his consulate in Istanbul on October 2 provoked international outrage and constant demands to reveal the body's whereabouts and who was ordered to kill him.

After conflicting interpretations, Riyadh announced that Khashoggi's body had been chipped after negotiations failed to persuade him to return to the kingdom.

The US Central Intelligence Agency recently announced that it had concluded that Khashoggi had been killed by a direct order from Bin Salman, but US President Donald Trump questioned the IAEA report and vowed to remain a "firm partner" for Saudi Arabia, In the nature of his relations with Riyadh.