‘ Rogue killers’ might have slain missing scribe: Don
Turkish official says consulate walls repainted since alleged murder
Washington, Oct. 15: US President Donald Trump said Monday that “rogue killers” could be to blame for the disappearance of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and said that the oil- rich state’s monarch emphatically denies involvement.
“The denial was very, very strong,” Mr Trump told reporters at the White House after talking to King Salman by telephone.
“It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?”
“All I can do is report what he told me. He told me in a very firm way that they had no knowledge of it. He said it very strongly,” Mr Trump said and added that secretary of state Mike Pompeo was on his way to Saudi Arabia to discuss the controversy over Khashoggi, a contributor to the Washington Post and critic of powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian citizen and US resident, vanished after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.
Mr Trump had earlier threatened “severe punishment” should proof emerge of Saudi guilt, but insisted that he will not risk billions of dollars in deals to sell US weapons to the kingdom.
Following days of mounting tensions, a team of Turkish and Saudi officials on Monday entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for a joint inspection that was agreed after Saudi King Salman and Turkish President Erdogan spoke on Sunday for the first time since Turkey accused the Saudis of killing and dismembering Khashoggi.
A Turkish official claimed the consulate walls have been repainted since the alleged murder and said the Turks don’t trust the Saudis not to obfuscate the investigation, reported the Middle Eastern Eye.
Turkish officials entered Saudi consulate in Istanbul for inspection on Monday, one said its walls have been repainted US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on his way to Saudi Arabia to discuss the controversy over Khashoggi
Istanbul, Oct. 15: Turkish police on Monday searched the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for the first time since journalist Jamal Khashoggi went missing, as US President Donald Trump floated the idea that “rogue killers” could be to blame for his disappearance.
Mr Khashoggi, a Saudi national and US resident who became increasingly critical of powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has not been seen since he walked into the Istanbul consulate to sort out marriage paperwork on October 2.
Turkish officials have said they believe he was killed — a claim Saudi Arabia has denied — with the controversy dealing a huge blow to the kingdom’s image and efforts by its youthful crown prince to showcase a reform drive.
Mr Trump despatched Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the kingdom for what the State Department described as “face to face meetings with the Saudi leadership” to find out what happened.
Until now, Riyadh has not allowed Turkish investigators to search the consulate — officially Saudi territory — with reports both sides were at odds over the conditions. But late Monday evening — after Turkish authorities placed high iron barriers in front of the consulate — a motorcade of six cars drew up and Turkish police and prosecutors entered the premises. Some police were in uniform while other officials were in suits carrying printers and files, an AFP correspondent said.
Dozens of media organisations — some of whom had set up tents -- have kept a constant vigil outside the consulate in the expectation that the search would finally begin.
A Saudi delegation had entered the consulate one hour before the Turkish police arrived and appeared still to be inside as the search was conducted.