Where’s his body, Turkey asks Saudi Arabia

ANKARA: Turkey yesterday urged Saudi Arabia to answer questions that remain over the murder of Riyadh critic Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi authorities last week claimed Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor, was killed during a “brawl”, and arrested 18 Saudis in connection with his death.

But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier this week said the “savage” murder had been planned, while Turkish media have published gruesome details of Khashoggi’s alleged torture and decapitation.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: “There are questions that need answers” over the premeditated murder, demanding the Saudis explain why the 18 were arrested.

“Who gave them the orders?” he asked, pointing out that Khashoggi’s body had not been found.

“Where is (the body)? You admit they did it, but why are they not saying (where)?” Cavusoglu said here with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki.

“His family wants to know and pay their final tribute.”

He repeated Erdogan’s demand that those involved in the murder should be tried in Turkey, adding that Ankara was willing to cooperate.

Turkey did not have “any desire” to take the case to an international court, he added, but would be willing to share information and the outcomes of its investigation.

CIA director Gina Haspel visited here on Tuesday for talks, with Turkish pro-government media claiming on Wednesday intelligence officials shared evidence with her.