Bin Salman ‘kill order’ on CIA recording, says report
CCTV of Khashoggi arriving at consulate THE CIA has a recording of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman instructing his brother to silence journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to a sensational report.
News of the audio comes days after Donald Trump refused to take action against Saudi Arabia over the journalist’s brutal murder, despite being told who orchestrated the attack.
CIA director Gina Haspel had “signalled” the existence of the bin Salman recording during a visit to Ankara last month, claims Turkey’s Hurriyet Daily News, the nation’s oldest English-language daily.
The audio is said to be from the wiretap of a call between Crown Prince Mohammed and his brother Khaled bin Salman, who is the Gulf kingdom’s ambassador to the US. Hurriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi, who makes the claim, said that if a thorough international investigation into the murder was opened, it would reveal even more “jawdropping evidence”.
This would come in the shape of many more wiretaps by American spooks.
Khashoggi, a US resident who wrote for the Washington Post and had been critical of Prince Mohammed, was lured to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, killed and allegedly dismem- bered. In previous recordings, the journalist is reportedly heard saying “release my arm. What do you think you are doing?” as he is restrained inside. Later he can allegedly be heard saying: “I’m suffocating. Take this bag off my head, I’m claustrophobic,” as a member of the ‘hit squad’ shouts “Traitor. You will be brought to account.”
Saudi Arabia yesterday warned continued criticism of the Crown Prince was a “red line” as countries kept probing his involvement. After lengthy denials, Saudi authorities admitted responsibility for the murder and said 21 people had been taken into custody. Five men connected to the killing, but who have repeatedly denied the involvement of the Crown Prince, face Saudi calls for the death penalty. Western leaders including Theresa May, Donald Trump and Turkish President Recip Tayepp Erdogan are due in Argentina for the G20 summit next week – along with bin Salman.
The US President said on Tuesday he would not take action against Saudi Arabia citing a £350billion US trade deal with the country as the main reason. On Wednesday he heaped praise on the Kingdom for keeping oil prices low. “Thank you to Saudi Arabia,” he said. SUSPECT Crown Prince KILLED Jamal