Saudi account of Khashoggi’s death incomplete — Washington, Europe

ELKO, Nev./ISTANBUL — US President Donald Trump joined European leaders on Saturday in pushing Saudi Arabia for more answers about Jamal Khashoggi after Riyadh changed its story and acknowledged that the journalist died over two weeks ago at its consulate in Istanbul.

Saudi Arabia said early on Saturday that Mr. Khashoggi, a critic of the country’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had died in a fight inside the building.

Germany called that explanation “inadequate” and questioned whether countries should sell arms to Saudi Arabia, while France and the European Union (EU) urged an in-depth investigation to find out what happened to the Washington Post columnist after he entered the consulate on Oct. 2 for documents for his marriage.

Turkish officials suspect Mr. Khashoggi, a Saudi national and US resident, was killed inside the consulate by a team of Saudi agents and his body cut up.

Asked during a trip to Nevada if he was satisfied that Saudi officials had been fired over Mr. Khashoggi’s death, Mr. Trump said: “No, I am not satisfied until we find the answer. But it was a big first step, it was a good first step. But I want to get to the answer.”

Mr. Trump’s comments about the Mr. Khashoggi incident in recent days have ranged from threatening Saudi Arabia with “very severe” consequences and warning of economic sanctions, to more conciliatory remarks in which he has played up the country’s role as a US ally against Iran and Islamist militants, as well as a major purchaser of US arms.

He had earlier called the Saudi narrative of what happened to Mr. Khashoggi credible.

Riyadh provided no evidence on Saturday to support its account and made no mention of what had become of Mr. Khashoggi’s body.

French Foreign Minister JeanYves Le Drian called for a full investigation and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in a joint statement with her foreign minister, said the Saudi account was not enough. “We expect transparency from Saudi Arabia about the circumstances of his death… The information available about events in the Istanbul consulate is inadequate,” the Germans said.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called into question the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia.

Officials told Reuters in Turkey on Thursday that Mr. Khashoggi’s remains may have been dumped in Belgrad Forest adjacent to Istanbul, and at a rural location near the city of Yalova, 90 km (55 miles) south of Istanbul.

But a Saudi public prosecutor said on Saturday that a fight broke out between Mr. Khashoggi and people who met him in the building, leading to his death. Eighteen Saudi nationals had been arrested, the prosecutor said.

Saudi state media said King Salman had ordered the dismissal of five officials, including Saud al-Qahtani, a royal court adviser seen as the right-hand man to Prince Mohammed, and deputy intelligence chief Ahmed Asiri.

The crisis prompted the king to intervene, five sources with links to the Saudi royal family told Reuters. But the king also ordered a restructuring of the intelligence service, to be led by Prince Mohammed, suggesting the prince retained wide-ranging authority. —