United Nations, February 5 (RHC)-- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has voiced concern over the escalating violence in Egypt and demanded an investigation into the deaths of anti-government protesters.

Navi Pillay, in a statement issued at the UN, said: "I call on the Egyptian authorities to carry out prompt, independent and impartial investigations into the killings, to make the findings public and to bring to justice those responsible in accordance with international human rights standards."

Pillay also expressed grave concern over the reports of the arrest of numerous protesters and urged the Egyptian government to immediately release the prisoners. The top UN human rights official stated that Egypt's security forces must obey international human rights laws and respect the people's right to peacefully protest, adding that the people have the right to go about their lives without fear of violence.

Egypt has been experiencing unrelenting violence since July 3, 2013, when the army ousted the first democratically-elected president, Mohamed Morsi, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the parliament. It also appointed the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mahmoud Mansour, as the new interim president.