JOINT INVESTIGATION INTO KHASHOGGI DISAPPEARANCE STARTS IN ISTANBUL

▶ Saudi and Turkish investigators inspect consulate as US president says he will send secretary of state to Riyadh

Turkish and Saudi investigators yesterday began what Turkish officials said was a joint inspection of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to find out the fate of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The investigators arrived in unmarked vehicles and made no comment to journalists waiting outside as they entered.

This joint visit was announced by a Turkish foreign ministry official, and followed a phone call between the Saudi king and Turkey’s president on Sunday night to discuss the disappearance of Khashoggi, according to state news agencies in both countries.

King Salman thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “for welcoming the kingdom’s proposal” to form a group to investigate the whereabouts of Khashoggi, last seen entering the consulate on October 2.

Turkish officials have accused Saudi Arabia of killing the journalist and critic.

King Salman said Turkey and Saudi Arabia enjoyed close relations and “that no one will get to undermine the strength of this relationship”.

US President Donald Trump yesterday said he would send Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Riyadh to meet King Salman and discuss Khashoggi’s disappearance.

Mr Trump said King Salman had denied any knowledge of the disappearance.

The developments follow a strained exchange between the kingdom and the US on Sunday in which Mr Trump said there would be severe punishment for those responsible if Khashoggi was found dead.

In response, Saudi Arabia said it rejected “any threats” and would retaliate, with consequences for the world economy.

Late on Sunday, several Arab states and organisations released statements in support of the kingdom.

“Saudi Arabia is one of the main countries trusted with the stability of the region and the advocacy of Arab causes,” said Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri.

The targeting of Riyadh will “drag the region into more negativity”, he said.

Jordanian Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications, Jumana Ghunaimat, said: “Saudi Arabia has a leading role in establishing security, stability and peace as well as enhancing economic cooperation in the region and the world.”

She said Jordan stood with Saudi Arabia in the face of “rumours and campaigns targeting them that are not based in facts”.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas expressed “full confidence” in Saudi Arabia and praised the kingdom’s leaders for their support of Palestine.

GCC Secretary General Abdul Latif bin Rashid condemned what he called a “media campaign” against Saudi Arabia, calling claims of Saudi guilt “false accusations”.

The Organisation of Islamic Co-operation issued a statement to praise the joint investigative committee.

Pakistan said it hoped the “two brotherly countries will be able to jointly address the matter”.