Khashoggi, 59, came from a prominent Saudi family with Turkish origins.The prominent journalist had written columns critical of the Saudi government while living in self-imposed exile in the US.
Saudi Arabia acknowledged early Saturday that Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in a fight, and said 18 Saudis were being held as suspects.Eighteen Saudi nationals were said to have been arrested.
Khashoggi, a critic of the crown prince, went missing after entering the consulate to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage.
Donald Trump said Saudi Arabia’s announcement on the circumstances of Khashoggi’s death was credible and a “good first step” but that what happened was “unacceptable”.Trump also said he preferred that any sanctions against Riyadh not include cancelling large defence orders.
Meanwhile, Australia is the latest country to announce it is withdrawing from an investment summit in Saudi Arabia later this month – joining a growing boycott that includes the US, UK, Dutch and French finance ministers over the Khashoggi killing.
Leaks from the Turkish authorities and independent reporting have shown that the kingdom’s most senior forensics expert was among a 15-man team sent from Riyadh on 2 October before Khashoggi’s scheduled visit to the consulate.
Germany, France and Canada on Saturday called Saudi Arabia’s explanation of how Mr Khashoggi died incomplete.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in a joint statement with her foreign minister, said the Saudi account was not enough.
Canada condemned Saudi Arabia’s account as inconsistent and not credible, calling for a “thorough” investigation.
Meanwhile, Saudi King Salman spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogwan yesterday. The pair agreed to continue co-operation in the investigation.
