Erdogan takes Saudi crown prince to task over killing

BUENOS AIRES: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has demanded that Saudi Arabia extradite suspects in the killing in Istanbul of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, taking to task the kingdom’s crown prince, who was basking in his quick return to the world stage at the G20.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s presence at the summit of the Group of 20 powers in Buenos Aires demonstrated that he was firmly in control, as he met with Western leaders and sealed an oil pact with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But the Turkish leader, also attending the G20, was visibly cooler toward the 33-year-old prince and on Saturday directly criticised him for the first time over the killing of Khashoggi, a royal confidant turned critic.

Saudi Arabia has said that 21 people are in custody and vowed to keep probing the killing of Khashoggi, who was murdered and dismembered after visiting the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate to handle paperwork for his planned wedding.

“It’s essential that these people are tried in Turkey to eliminate any question marks that the international community may have,” Erdogan told reporters in Buenos Aires.

“Whoever has ordered and implemented this violent crime should be found out at once.

“Unless the perpetrators are found out, the whole world and the Islamic community shall not be satisfied.”

Erdogan said the Saudis have refused to help Turkish prosecutors with information on the whereabouts of Khashoggi’s body and the identities of accomplices said to have supported the visiting Saudi hit squad.

The Turkish leader, who has been vying for influence in the region with Saudi Arabia, said he did “not wish to cause any damage” to the royal family.

But he criticised Prince Mohammed, saying that during the sum- mit, the Saudi heir apparent gave an “unbelievable explanation” on Khashoggi’s killing.

The prince told world leaders that “unless the crime is proven, you cannot blame Saudi Arabia,” Erdogan quoted him as saying.

“Of course, that might be valid from a legal point of view. But his own officials have admitted that this was a planned operation,” Erdogan added.

He said only one G20 leader – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – raised the journalist’s killing in the full summit.

Erdogan said he himself did not bring up the case as time ran out in the session.