Saudis called on to prove journalist left
BUDAPEST/ANKARA, WASHINGTON: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called on Riyadh yesterday to prove its claim that Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who has been missing since last week, left the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
The disappearance of Khashoggi, previously a prominent newspaper editor in Saudi Arabia and an adviser to its former head of intelligence, has sparked global concern, particularly after Turkish sources said over the weekend that authorities believed he was killed inside the consulate.
Khashoggi left Saudi Arabia last year, saying he feared retribution for his criticism of Saudi policy in the Yemen war and its crackdown on dissent. He entered the consulate in Istanbul last Tuesday to get documents for his forthcoming mar riage. Saudi officials have said that he left shortly afterwards but his fiancee, who was waiting outside, said he never appeared.
‘‘We have to get an outcome from this investigation as soon as possible. The consulate officials cannot save themselves by simply saying ‘he has left’,’’ Erdogan told a news conference in Budapest.
Erdogan said Turkey had no documents or evidence in the case.
A Saudi source at the consulate said the accusations were baseless. The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Khalid bin Salman, echoed these comments, saying his country had sent a security team, with Turkey’s approval, to assist in the investigation.
Turkey has asked for permission to search the consulate, broadcaster NTV said yesterday.