Mystery death of journo’s ‘hit man’

AN ALLEGED “hit squad” member behind the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has reportedly been killed in a “suspicious” car accident.

Meshal Saad M. Albostani, a lieutenant in the Saudi Royal Air Force, is said to have been killed in Saudi Arabia.

He is among a group of men wanted for questioning after Khashoggi went missing while visiting the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago.

Turkish news organisation Yeni Safak, which carried the report of the crash, claims there are now fears he “could have been silenced”.

US President Donald Trump acknowledged yesterday it “certainly looks” as though Khashoggi is dead, and he threatened “very severe” consequences if the Saudis are found to have murdered him.

The US said it would give Saudi Arabia “a few more days” to work on its probe into the suspected murder, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

Mr Pompeo, who had just reported to Mr Trump after travelling to Saudi Arabia and Turkey, told journalists the Saudis assured him “they will conduct a complete, thorough investigation of all the facts”.

“I think it’s important for us all to remember, too – we have a long, since 1932, a long strategic relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Mr Pompeo said.

He said he had made clear to the Saudis in his visit to Riyadh that “we take this matter with respect to Mr Khashoggi very seriously”.

“They made clear to me that they too understand the serious nature of the disappearance of Mr Khashoggi,” he said. “They also assured me that they will conduct a complete, thorough investigation of all of the facts surrounding Mr Khashoggi and that they will do so in a timely fashion.”

Turkish investigators left the Saudi consulate in Istanbul early on Thursday after again searching the building and vehicles.

Another senior member of Mr Trump’s team, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, meanwhile said he would not attend an investment conference in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Mnuchin made the announcement on Twitter, saying the decision was made after a White House meeting with Mr Trump and Mr Pompeo.

He joins a growing number of leaders who have pulled out of the summit, including UK Trade Minister Liam Fox.

THEY (SAUDI ARABIA) ASSURED ME THEY WILL CONDUCT A COMPLETE, THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF ALL THE FACTS MIKE POMPEO