Saudis admit journo killed
Khashoggi death came in 'fistfight'
Saudi Arabia admitted for the first time on Friday that journalist Jamal Khashoggi had been killed in the regime’s consulate in Turkey, claiming he got into a “fistfight” that cost him his life.
The assessment by the Saudi attorney general was broadcast on state television.
The broadcast also reported that five top officials had been fired and 18 Saudi nationals have been detained as suspects in the death.
“Preliminary investigations carried out by the Public Prosecution Office into the disappearance of Saudi citizen Jamal bin Ahmad Khashoggi revealed that the discussions that took place between him and the persons who met him during his presence at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul [led] to a brawl and a fistfight with the citizen, Jamal Khashoggi, which led to his death, may his soul rest in peace,” the Saudi prosecutors’ statement read.
“The investigations are still underway, and 18 Saudi nationals have been arrested.”
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — who critics suspect may have ordered the killing — was said to be leading the commission investigating the death.
The axed officials include the crown prince’s adviser, Saud al-Qahtani, and deputy intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri.
The attorney general also said Saudi King Salman has made a request for the “urgent need” to restructure the kingdom’s intelligence services.
The king ordered a committee of top government agencies to fur- ther investigate and issue a report within a month.
The international community has speculated for more than two weeks about whether the Saudis would hold anyone accountable for the Oct. 2 disappearance of Khashoggi, a critic of the crown prince and columnist for The Washington Post.
Critics of the regime said the new explanation of what happened to the dissident journalist was beyond belief.
“To say that I am skeptical of the new Saudi narrative about Mr. Khashoggi is an understatement,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) tweeted.
“First we were told Mr. Khashoggi supposedly left the consulate and there was blanket denial of any Saudi involvement. Now, a fight breaks out and he’s killed in the consulate, all without knowledge of Crown Prince.”
Turkish officials have said Khashoggi was killed and dismembered in the consulate. They claim the gruesome details were captured on an audio recording.
President Trump said Saudi Arabia’s admission that Khashoggi was killed is a “good first step” — but that what happened is “unacceptable.”
Trump added that he considered the explanation for Khashoggi’s death credible, but that he wants to speak with the crown prince before next steps are taken.
When asked about US response, Trump said he would work with Congress — and that he’d prefer not to hurt American companies and jobs by cutting billions in arms sales to the kingdom.