Pompeo meets Saudi king over Khashoggi case
RIYADH/ ISTANBUL: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Saudi A rabi a’s King Salman yesterday to discuss the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Khashoggi, a US resident and leading critic of the Saudi crown prince, vanished after entering the consulate on Oct 2. Turkish officials say they believe he was murdered there and his body removed, which the Saudis strongly deny.
President Donald Trump, who dispatched Pompeo to Riyadh amid strained ties with the key ally, has speculated that “rogue killers” may be responsible after speaking with King Salman.
After talks with king, Pompeo met Foreign Minister Adel alJubeir and will have dinner with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He may go on to Turkey.
The case has provoked an international outcry against the world’s top oil exporter, with media and business executives pulling out of an investment conference next week.
The UN human rights chief yesterday said immunity on diplomatic premises and officials should be lifted for the Khashoggi investigation.
Trump has threatened “severe punishment” i f it turns out Khashoggi was kil led in the consulate, but ruled out cancelling arms deals worth tens of billions of dollars. European allies have urged accountability for those responsible.
Members of Khashoggi’s family have called for “an independent and impartial international” investigation.
Khashoggi’s fiancee Hatice Cengiz, who was waiting outside the consulate the day he disappeared, tweeted a Koranic verse warning those who kill on purpose, with the hashtag “Jamal is the Martyr of the Word”. — Reuters