Saudi Arabia vows justice in Khashoggi case
KING AND CROWN PRINCE RECEIVE FAMILY MEMBERS OF SLAIN JOURNALIST
Saudi Arabia will hold to account those responsible for journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder and those who failed in their duties, whoever they are, the Saudi cabinet said after a meeting chaired by King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz yesterday.
Khashoggi went missing on October 2 when he entered the consulate in Istanbul. After weeks of denying knowledge of his fate, Saudi officials said the prominent journalist was killed in a “rogue operation”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Saudi Arabia to allow 18 suspects in Khashoggi’s killing to be tried in Turkish courts.
He said diplomatic immunity is not “armour” for murder, saying the Vienna Convention wouldn’t allow it.
Erdogan also called for an independent commission to be set up to look into the murder, but added he was confident of the full cooperation of Saudi King.
This came as King Salman received Salah, son of Khashoggi, and other family members at the Al Yamamah palace in Riyadh in the presence of Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.
The King and Crown Prince expressed their condolences on the death of the journalist.
During an official visit to Indonesia, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir said the kingdom was committed to a “comprehensive investigation” of the murder.
“We expressed [a] commitment ... to see to it that the investigation is thorough and complete and the truth is revealed and those responsible are held to account,” Al Jubeir said at the joint news conference with his Indonesian counterpart.
Meanwhile, CIA director Gina Haspel arrived in Turkey to review the case, according to a US official who was not authorised to discuss the trip and spoke only on condition of anonymity.
We expressed [a] commitment ... to see to it that the investigation is thorough and complete and the truth is revealed and those responsible are held to account.”
Adel Al Jubeir | Saudi Foreign Minister
King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz yesterday received Sahel Bin Ahmad Khashoggi and Salah Bin Jamal Khashoggi, the brother and son of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, respectively, to offer condolences.
Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman was also present during the meeting, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Sahel and Salah expressed their gratitude to the King and Prince Mohammad.
This came as Saudi Arabia said it will hold to account those responsible for Khashoggi’s murder and those who failed in their duties, whoever they are. The comments followed a meeting of the Saudi cabinet chaired by King Salman.
Khashoggi went missing on October 2 when he entered the consulate in Istanbul.
Saudi officials said last week the prominent journalist was killed in a “rogue operation”.
Trial in Turkey
In a speech to the Turkish parliament yesterday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Saudi Arabia to allow 18 suspects in Khashoggi’s killing to be tried in Turkish courts.
He said diplomatic immunity is not “armour” for murder, saying Vienna convention wouldn’t allow it. Erdogan also called for an independent commission to be set up to look into the murder but added he was confident of the full cooperation of King Salman.
Erdogan yesterday called Khashoggi’s son, Abdullah, to express his condolences, and also spoke with other members of his family. He told family members that he was “deeply saddened” by his death and that Turkey would follow up the incident.
Pence’s comments
Meanwhile, US Vice-President Mike Pence said Khashoggi’s murder “will not go without an American response.” Pence said CIA Director Gina Haspel is in Turkey reviewing the facts of what Pence called a “brutal murder”.
Speaking yesterday in Washington at an event hosted by The Washington Post, Pence would not elaborate on what a possible US response would be.
Yesterday, during an official visit to Indonesia, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir said the kingdom was committed to a “comprehensive investigation” of the murder.
“We expressed [a] commitment ... to see to it that the investigation is thorough and complete and the truth is revealed and those responsible are held to account,” Al Jubeir said at the joint news conference with his Indonesian counterpart.
The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) nations called for a thorough and credible investigation, saying Saudi Arabia must ensure such an incident could never happen again.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said yesterday that “the European Union’s reaction from now on will depend on the next steps that will be taken by the Saudi authorities.”