US, Arabs back results of Saudi probe into Khashoggi’s death
TWO TOP OFFICIALS FIRED, 18 SUSPECTS HELD FOR JOURNALIST’S DEATH AND COVER-UP ATTEMPT
The United States, several Arab and Muslim countries backed Saudi Arabia following the announcement of the death of Saudi citizen and journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Earlier yesterday, the kingdom announced the arrest of 18 Saudis and the sacking of five officials as part of its probe into Khashoggi’s death.
Khashoggi went missing after entering the consulate on October 2 to obtain documents for his marriage.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the suspects went to Istanbul to see him following indications about the possibility of him returning home, a Saudi official said. However, the discussions with Khashoggi “did not go as expected and degenerated into a brawl and a fistfight that led to his death, may God rest his soul in peace. The suspects then tried to cover up what happened,” the source said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The SPA said King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz had ordered the dismissal of five officials, including Saud Al Qahtani, a royal court adviser, and deputy intelligence chief Ahmad Al Assiri.
The SPA statement said Saudi Arabia expresses its deep regret at the painful developments that have taken place and stresses the commitment of the authorities to hold all those involved accountable and bring them to justice by referring them to the competent courts.
Justice Minister Dr. Waleed Al Samaani said the case of Khashoggi took place on Saudi sovereign territory and it will be looked at by Saudi courts when all procedures are complete.
US President Donald Trump said the Saudi account was credible. “I think it’s a good first step, it’s a big step,” Trump said.
The UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen, the Muslim World League and Palestine praised the directives of King Salman. The UAE “commends directives and decisions of Saudi King Salman on the Khashoggi case.”
UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan commended King Salman “for his great efforts and keenness to explore the truth in this matter and calling for fair, legal accountability”.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by its leadership, was and still is a state of institutions based on justice and fairness. The royal decisions and actions taken after the investigation in this case reaffirm these values and established principles to ensure the implementation of law and justice.”
King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud has relieved Ahmad Al Assiri, the vice-president of General Intelligence Presidency, and Saud Bin Abdullah Al Qahtani, adviser to the Royal Court, of their posts for their alleged role in the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Instanbul, Turkey, early this month.
In a second order, King Salman terminated the services of Major-General Mohammad Bin Saleh Al Rumaih, assistant chief of General Intelligence; Major General Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Shaya, assistant to the head of General Intelligence for Human Resources, and General Rashad Bin Hamed Al Mohammadi, the director of the General Directorate of Security and Protection at the General Intelligence.
The sacking of the high-ranking officers and official was announced shortly after the kingdom’s attorney-general revealed that Khashoggi died during a fist-fight at the consulate.
“Preliminary investigations carried out by the Public Prosecution Office in 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 fist-fight, which led to his death, may his soul rest in peace,” the attorney-general said in a statement.
“The Public Prosecutor’s Office affirms that its investigations continue in this case with 18 detainees so far, all of whom [are] Saudi nationals, in order to uncover and announce all the facts, and to hold accountable all those involved in this case and bring them to justice.”
US President Donald Trump said yesterday that he believed Saudi Arabia’s explanation on Khashoggi’s death and termed the arrest of 18 people “a great first step”.
King Salman also ordered the formation of a ministerial committee to address the “urgent and pressing need to restructure the General Intelligence Presidency, modernise its system and regulations, define its powers accurately, and assess the procedures, methods and powers governing its work, and administrative and structural workflow to ensure proper functioning and the determination of responsibilities.”
The committee is headed by the Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, who is chairman of the Council of Political and Security Affairs, and comprises the minister of Interior, the president of the Royal Court, the minister of Foreign Affairs, the head of General Intelligence, and the president of State Security.
The committee has one month to present its work, according to the order.
The UAE led several Arab nations like Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen in commending the directives and decisions taken by King Salman.
In Abu Dhabi, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, commended King Salman’s keenness and great efforts to uncover the truth on the case, a fact that was clearly reflected in the king’s decisions and directives.
He said Saudi Arabia, represented by its leadership, was
and still is a state of institutions based on justice and fairness, adding that the royal decisions and actions, taken following the investigation in this case, reaffirm such established values and principles to ensure the rule of law and justice. Shaikh Abdullah prayed to Allah Almighty to protect Saudi Arabia, its leadership and people.
Bahrain praised the “wise directives and sound and prompt decisions,” saying they reflected the great interest of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in establishing justice and fairness and in uncovering facts honestly and objectively, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
In Cairo, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the “decisive and brave” measures taken by the Saudi king over the investigation in Khashoggi’s case “respect the principles of law and applications of effective justice.”