Saudi Arabia has admitted Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
Khashoggi – a Saudi writer, US resident, and Washington Post columnist – entered the building on October 2 to obtain documentation certifying he had divorced his ex-wife so he could remarry.
After weeks of repeated denials that it had anything to do with his disappearance, the kingdom eventually acknowledged that the murder was premeditated. The whereabouts of his body are still unknown.
Latest developments:
Sunday, October 28
Saudi prosecutor to arrive in Turkey
A Saudi public prosecutor is due to arrive in Turkey as the investigation into the killing of Khashoggi, whose body is still missing, continues.
Saturday, October 27
France’s Macron calls for sanctions over Khashoggi killing
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for sanctions on those responsible for Khashoggi’s murder.
“For me, things are clear. Firstly, some of facts have been established. We must fully investigate the nature of these facts, and who’s responsible,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a four-way Syria summit in Istanbul, also attended by the leaders of Turkey, Germany and Russia.
“Sanctions must be taken on this basis and these sanctions must be coherent and complete, and be extremely concrete and proportional,” added Macron.
“It will depend on the facts as they are established and the sanctions will be taken at a European level, as we usually do, so that there is true coordination.”
Merkel and Macron to seek joint EU position on Saudi arms sales
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to find a common European Union position on arms sales to Saudi Arabia, according to Germany’s leader.
“We agreed that when we have more clarity, and we are counting on that, when we know who was behind this then we will try to find a unified European solution or reaction from all member states of the European Union to show that we negotiate on the basis of common values,” Merkel told reporters in Istanbul.
The chancellor has promised to halt all German arms exports to the kingdom until the killing of Khashoggi is explained.
Turkey’s Erdogan demands more answers in Khashoggi case
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he has shared details of the Khashoggi case in bilateral talks during a four-way summit on Syria with the leaders of Russia, France and Germany.
Speaking at a joint news conference following a summit in Istanbul, Erdogan said Riyadh needed to say who sent to Turkey the 18 people believed to be responsible for the journalist’s killing.
He also said Ankara valued the conclusion of discussions between Turkish and Saudi prosecutors, who are due to meet on Sunday.
Macron, Merkel back Europe coordination on arms sales to Saudi
France and Germany’s leaders have said they want a “coordinated” European position for sanctions on arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
This came after French President Emmanuel Macron implied on Friday that German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government was engaging in “pure demagoguery” by halting arms sales to Riyadh.
On the sidelines of a Syria summit in Istanbul, the two leaders had a “peaceful exchange”, the Elysee palace said, and agreed not to announce their next positions on the issue without first coordinating “at the European level”.
Saudi FM: Khashoggi issue has become ‘hysterical’
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has criticised the global outcry surrounding Khashoggi’s killing as “hysterical” and rejected Turkey’s demand to extradite the suspects.
“The issue has become fairly hysterical,” Jubeir said, adding that investigations take time and facts should be determined as inquiries continue.
Answering questions from journalists at a regional summit in Bahrain, Jubeir described Saudi Arabia’s relationship with the United States as “ironclad”, despite earlier comments from US Secretary of State James Mattis that the killing “undermines regional stability”.
Saudi FM: Khashoggi murder suspects will not be extradited
Riyadh dismissed Ankara’s calls to extradite 18 Saudis wanted for the murder of Khashoggi.
“The individuals are Saudi nationals. They’re detained in Saudi Arabia, and the investigation is in Saudi Arabia, and they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia,” Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told a regional defence forum in Bahrain.
He was responding to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who on Friday renewed his call for the 18 men to be extradited for trial in Turkey.
Mattis: Khashoggi killing ‘undermines regional stability’
US Defence Secretary James Mattis said that Khashoggi’s murder “undermines regional stability” and that the US intends to take further action in response.
Speaking to an audience of international officials in Bahrain, Mattis avoided mentioning Saudi Arabia in connection with the murder but did say that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had already revoked some Saudi visas and “will be taking additional measures”.
“With our collective interests in peace and unwavering respect for human rights in mind, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a diplomatic facility must concern us all,” he said.
He added that “our respect for the Saudi people is undiminished” but that respect “must come with transparency and trust”.
Mattis also argued that Russia could not replace US commitment to the Middle East, saying that Moscow lacked essential moral principles, and renewed criticism of Iran’s “outlaw regime”.]]>
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