Philippines drug war deaths up to 1,800

Manila: The Philippines has recorded about 1,800 drug-related killings since President Rodrigo Duterte took office seven weeks ago.

He has launched a war on narcotics, and going by the police figures, the death toll is far higher than was previously believed.

Philippine National Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa told a Senate committee on Monday that 712 drug traffickers and users had been killed in police operations since July 1. Police were also investigating 1,067 other drug-related killings, Dela Rosa said, without giving details.

The US said it was "deeply concerned" by the reports and urged Duterte's government to ensure authorities abided by human rights norms.

Two days ago, Duterte had also threatened to withdraw the Philippines from the United Nations, as he launched a profanity-laced tirade against the organisation for criticising his bloody war on crime.