Saudis reject threat over missing writer

TRUMP WARNS OF PUNISHMENT

SAUDI Arabia has warned it will respond to any “threats” against it following President Donald Trump’s warning of “severe punishment” over the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Mr Trump made a point of visiting the kingdom on his first overseas trip as president and has touted arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

But the kingdom is under mounting pressure as concern grows over the fate of the veteran journalist, who has not been seen since he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

A statement by the kingdom rejected threats from other nations and added that “if it is [targeted by] any action, it will respond with greater action”.

The statement came after the Tadawul stock exchange in Riyadh dropped by 7% at one point during the week’s first day of trading.

Turkish officials say they fear Saudi agents killed and dismembered Mr Khashoggi, saying they have audio and video recordings of it.

The kingdom has called the allegations “baseless”, but has offered no evidence the writer ever left the consulate.

Meanwhile, in a joint statement, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and his counterparts from Germany, Heiko Maas, and France, Jean-yves Le Drian, said they were treating the disappearance with “utmost seriousness” and called for a “credible investigation”.