By James Simons-
Saudi Arabia’s admission that Journalist Jamal Khashoggi has caused a stir. Saudi Arabia have admitted that Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in a fight in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Deputy intelligence chief Ahmad al-Assiri and Saud al-Qahtani, senior aide to Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, were sacked over the affair, it announced.
The admission has caused a stir, with Germany and the Uk expressing dissatisfaction with the news, and calling for more adequate action against the perpetrators of the killing. The Uk, America, Australia, the Dutch and French Ministers have boycotted an investment conference in Saudi Arabia.
However, President Donald Trump has praised the Saudi government for acting quickly, stating the explanation to be satisfactory. Many others are not satisfied, and Turkey has promised to disclose everything they know about they killing. They claim to have audio and video recordings of exactly what happened when Khashoggi was killed at the Instabul Consulate on October 2.
The admission comes two weeks of denials that Saudi Arabia had any involvement in the disappearance of Khashoggi on October 2. Khashaoggo vanished after he entered the consulate in Istanbul on 2 October to obtain paperwork for his forthcoming marriage. The Saudi government ruled by Iron handed prince Salmon had been tainted by controversy over the killing. They had initially distanced themselves from any involvement in the killing, and their official position is that the a botched rendition.
UNACCEPTABLE
Turkish investigators, however, say they have audio and video evidence which shows Mr Khashoggi was killed by a team of Saudi agents inside the consulate and dismembered
“Turkey will never allow a cover-up,” a ruling party spokesperson said.
Saudi Arabia suggested on Friday Mr Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi critic, had died in a “fist fight”.
Turkish police and prosecutors have been searching the consulate as well as the consul’s residence this week for evidence of what unfolded. On Friday they widened their search to a nearby forest, where unnamed officials believe his body may have been disposed of..
It says investigations are under way, and so far 18 Saudi nationals have been arrested.
Unnamed officials speaking to Reuters news agency and the New York Times say the Saudis did not know the whereabouts of the body after it was handed to a “local collaborator” to dispose of.
In addition to the arrests, two senior officials have been sacked over the affair – deputy intelligence chief Ahmad al-Assiri and Saud al-Qahtani, senior aide to Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
“Nobody should ever doubt about it. We are not accusing anyone in advance but we don’t accept anything to remain covered [up], a Rrepresentative from the Turkish government said.
Turkish investigators have said they have audio and video evidence which shows Mr Khashoggi was killed by a team of Saudi agents inside the consulate and dismembered. Reports in Turkish media this week gave gruesome details of what are said to be his final minutes.Turkish media said earlier this week they had identified a 15-member team of suspected Saudi agents who flew into and out of Istanbul on the day of the disappearance.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Saudi King Salman on Friday evening, and the two agreed to continue co-operating in the investigation German Chancellor Angela Merkel has condemned the killing “in the strongest terms”, calling the explanations given of the circumstances of Mr Khashoggi’s death “inadequate”.
President Trump praised the kingdom for acting quickly, adding that the official explanation was “credible”over the Khashoggi killing. Mr Khashoggi’s fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, questioned in a tweet what had happened to his body, saying: “The heart grieves, the eye tears, and with your separation we are saddened, my dear Jamal.”