Widodo wants probe in Saudi

– Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for a “transparent and thorough” investigation of the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a meeting yesterday with Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, the foreign minister of the Asian nation said.

Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, maintains close ties with Saudi Arabia and has “expressed concern” over the killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, which the kingdom initially denied for weeks.

Khashoggi’s killing has drawn international criticism, prompting the kingdom on Sunday to describe it as a “huge and grave mistake”, while adding that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had not been aware of the case.

“Indonesia hopes the investigation being carried out is transparent and thorough,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said after Widodo’s meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, which she attended.

The two discussed several subjects, including the Khashoggi case. Marsudi said Al-Jubeir had conveyed an “explanation” to Widodo about the case, but she did not elaborate. She was scheduled to hold talks with Al-Jubeir in Jakarta today.

In 2017, King Salman signed a range of cooperation pacts with Indonesia. – Reuters

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