Saudi Arabia vows retaliation if punished

> US senators seek actions including sanctions, boycott

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Sunday warned against threats to punish it over the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, as European leaders piled on pressure and two more US executives scrapped plans to attend a Saudi investor conference.

Khashoggi, a US resident and Washington Post columnist critical of Riyadh’s policies, disappeared on Oct 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkey believes he was murdered and his body removed. Saudi Arabia has denied that.

US President Donald Trump has threatened “severe punishment” if it turns out Khashoggi was killed in the consulate, though he said Washington would be “punishing” itself if it halted military sales to Riyadh.

“The Kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it, whether by threatening to impose economic sanctions, using political pressures, or repeating false accusations,” the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted an unnamed official as saying.

“The Kingdom also affirms that if it receives any action, it will respond with greater action, and that the Kingdom’s economy has an influential and vital role in the global economy.”

In a joint statement on Sunday, Britain, France and Germany said they were treating the case with “the utmost seriousness”.

“There needs to be a credible investigation to establish the truth about what happened, and – if relevant – to identify those bearing responsibility for the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, and ensure that they are held to account.”

On Sunday, JP Morgan Chase & Co said its CEO Jamie Dimon has cancelled plans to attend a Saudi Arabian investor conference later this month.

Ford Motor Co said chairman Bill Ford has cancelled his trip to the Middle East, which included an appearance at the conference.

US senators called for reactions ranging from boycotting an upcoming economic summit in Riyadh to ending support for Saudi military operations in Yemen.

Arizona Senator Jeff Flake called for “severe action” which he said would affect arms sales and involvement in Yemen.

Senators have triggered a provision of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act requiring the president to determine whether a foreign person is responsible for a gross human rights violation.

The act has in the past imposed visa bans and asset freezes on Russian officials. – Reuters