Don’t interfere in our affairs, Saudi warns US over Yemen
Stinging press statement marks a new low for Us-saudi relations
RIYADH/MONTREAL: Saudi Arabia issued an unusually strong rebuke of the US Senate on Monday, rejecting a bipartisan resolution that put the blame for the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi squarely on the Saudi crown prince and describing it as “interference” in the kingdom’s affairs.
It’s the latest sign of how the relationship between the royal court and Congress has deteriorated, more than two months after Khashoggi was killed and dismembered by Saudi agents inside the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul.
The assassins have been linked to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
US Senators last Thursday passed the measure that blamed the crown prince for Khashoggi’s killing and called on Riyadh to “ensure appropriate accountability”. Senators also passed a separate measure calling for the end of US aid to the Saudi-led war in Yemen.
In a lengthy statement on Monday, Saudi Arabia said the Senate’s resolution “contained blatant interferences” in the kingdom’s internal affairs and undermines its regional and international role. The resolution was based on “unsubstantiated claims and allegations”, the statement said.
“The kingdom categorically rejects any interference in its internal affairs, any and all accusations, in any manner, that disrespect its leadership ... and any attempts to undermine its sovereignty,” it said.
CANADA LOOKING TO CANCEL SAUDI DEAL
Canada is looking into ways to cancel a 2014 weapons deal with Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday.
As evidence emerged of direct Saudi involvement in Khashoggi’s murder on October 2, Canada in November announced sanctions against 17 Saudi nationals linked to the killing.
Trudeau said on Sunday in an interview with CTV, “We inherited a (Canadian) $15 billion contract signed by former prime minister Stephen Harper to export light-armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia,” he said.
“We are engaged with the export permits to try and see if there is a way of no longer exporting these vehicles to Saudi Arabia,” he added.