Khashoggi news: Turkish president Erdogan urges Saudi Arabia to disclose who gave order to murder journalist
UN investigator said journalist was victim of 'extrajudicial execution' after Saudi prosecutor general says murder was premeditated crime
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
The Saudi officials who killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi in their Istanbul consulate must reveal the location of his body, Turkey's president said as he sharply criticised the kingdom's handling of the case.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said Saudi Arabia's chief prosecutor will arrive in Turkey on Sunday as part of the investigation and will meet Turkish counterparts.
Turkey's state-run news agency said Turkish prosecutors plan to seek the extradition of 18 suspects.
Anadolu Agency said the Istanbul chief prosecutor's office submitted its request to the justice ministry, and the foreign ministry will formally request the extraditions.
On Thursday, Saudi prosecutors said Khashoggi's killing was premeditated, citing Turkish evidence and changing the country's account again to try to ease international outrage over the murder of a prominent critic of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Turkey has other "information and evidence" about the killing by Saudi officials after Khashoggi entered the consulate on 2 October, and it will eventually reveal that information, Mr Erdogan said.
"There is no point in being too hasty," he said in an indication that Turkey is prepared to maintain pressure on Saudi Arabia, even as the kingdom struggles for ways to end the crisis.
CIA director Gina Haspel was in Turkey earlier this week to review evidence, and she briefed Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday.
What the US president called "one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups" was revealed to the world by Turkish leaks of information, including references to purported audio recordings of the killing, and security camera footage of the Saudi officials involved as they moved around Istanbul.
Key mysteries remaining include whether the killing was carried out with the knowledge of the crown prince, who denies it, and the location of Khashoggi's body.
"It is clear that he has been killed but where is it? You have to show the body," Mr Erdogan said during an address to Turkey's ruling party leaders.
He criticised initial Saudi statements that claimed Khashoggi had left the consulate unharmed after going there for paperwork related to his planned marriage to a Turkish woman.
"He will leave the consulate and not take his fiancee with him? Such childish statements do not go hand in hand with statesmanship," said Mr Erdogan, again urging Saudi Arabia to turn over 18 suspects the kingdom said it had arrested and would punish for the crime.
"If you cannot get them to speak ... then hand them over to us and let us put them on trial," he added.
Mr Khashoggi's son Salah has left Saudi Arabia after the kingdom revoked a travel ban, allowing him to travel to the US.
Mr Khashoggi's fiancee said later that she has not received any condolence call from Saudi officials.
Hatice Cengiz, who is Turkish, also said in an interview on Turkish television channel HaberTurk: "I found myself in a darkness I cannot express."
She said she had asked US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who called her about the case, whether he had any news that would make her happy.
"But he said he didn't," she added.
State department spokesperson Robert Palladino said Washington welcomed the decision to have Salah Khashoggi and his family leave Saudi Arabia. His US destination was not immediately known but his late father lived in the Washington area.
The statement from Saudi prosecutors that evidence showed Khashoggi's killing was premeditated contradicted an earlier Saudi assertion that rogue officials from the kingdom had killed him by mistake in a brawl.
That assertion, in turn, backtracked from an initial statement that Saudi authorities knew nothing about what happened to the columnist for the Washington Post.
The shifting explanations indicate Saudi Arabia is scrambling for a way out of the crisis that has enveloped the world's largest oil exporter and a major US ally in the Middle East.
But a solution seems a long way off, partly because of deepening scepticism in Turkey and elsewhere that the brazen crime could have been carried out without the involvement of Prince Mohammed, the kingdom's heir apparent.
If you want to read how the day's developments happened live, please see what was our live coverage below
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load
Angela Merkel said Germany was prepared to take "appropriate measures together with international partners" following the killing of the Saudi writer.
The chancellor's office did not elaborate on the warning in a statement released on Thursday following a call between Ms Merkel and Saudi Arabia's King Salman.
In the call, Ms Merkel condemned Khashoggi's killing at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul "in the sharpest possible manner."
She called on Saudi Arabia to "ensure a swift, transparent and credible investigation" and hold those responsible to account.
Ms Merkel also raised the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen and urged Saudi Arabia to ensure access for humanitarian aid.
British Conservative MEPs have been branded "disgraceful" after they abstained from a vote on whether to impose an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia.
The pro-government newspaper Sabah said 3,500 hours of recordings have been examined so far and a team of 750 people has been formed to investigate Khashoggi's murder.
Turkey's president has urged Saudi Arabia to disclose who gave the order to murder Khashoggi.
"Who gave this order?" Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked in a speech to members of his AK Party in Ankara.
"Who gave the order for 15 people to come to Turkey?" he added, referring to a 15-man Saudi security team Turkey has said flew into Istanbul hours before the killing.
Russia has no reason to doubt the statements of the Saudi king and crown prince that the royal family was not involved in the murder of Khashoggi, the Kremlin has said.
"No one should have any reasons not to believe them," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that the Kremlin welcomed the investigation into the slaying.
“Who gave this order?” Mr Erdogan asked in a speech to members of his AK Party in Ankara.
“Who gave the order for 15 people to come to Turkey?” he added, referring to a 15-man Saudi security team Turkey has said flew into Istanbul hours before the killing.
“It is clear that he has been killed but where is it? You have to show the body,” he said.
Mr Erdogan criticised initial Saudi statements which claimed Khashoggi had left the consulate unharmed after going there for paperwork to marry his fiancee.
“He will leave the consulate and not take his fiancee with him? Such childish statements do not go hand in hand with statesmanship,” the president said, again urging Saudi Arabia to turn over 18 suspects the kingdom said it had arrested and would punish for the crime.
“If you cannot get them to speak ... then hand them over to us and let us put them on trial,” he added.
Turkey has other "information and evidence" about the killing by Saudi officials after Khashoggi entered the consulate on 2 October, and it will eventually reveal that information, Mr Erdogan said.
"There is no point in being too hasty," he said in an indication that Turkey is prepared to maintain pressure on Saudi Arabia, even as the kingdom struggles for ways to end the crisis.
The director of the CIA, Gina Haspel, was in Turkey earlier this week to review evidence, and she briefed Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday. Information about the briefing has not yet been revealed.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments