Saudis ‘set to admit they did kill journalist in interrogation gone wrong’
SAUDI Arabia is set to admit journalist Jamal Khashoggi died inside its Istanbul consulate after an interrogation that went wrong, it was claimed last night.
The kingdom is preparing a report that will say the interrogation was intended to lead to his abduction from Turkey, according to CNN.
It comes amid claims that Mr Khashoggi was killed and dismembered by a 15-man hit squad that had flown into the country.
One source said the report would likely conclude the operation was carried out without clearance and transparency, and that those involved will be held responsible.
A second source acknowledged that the report is still being prepared and cautioned that things could change. It is not clear when it will be published.
The claim comes after a diplomatic row between Saudi Arabia and its allies following the disappearance of the well-known critic two weeks ago.
Mr Khashoggi, 59, a critic of the Saudi government, was allegedly murdered inside the country’s consulate in Istanbul on October 2.
He went inside to get some paperwork sorted for his upcoming wedding but he was never seen leaving despite his wife waiting for him for 11 hours.
Saudi Arabia claimed he walked out although it did not provide proof despite there being numerous security cameras at the consulate.
It previously said it had no footage for the afternoon of Mr Khashoggi’s disappearance. Consulate staff were reportedly given the afternoon off on the day Mr Khashoggi went missing because of a ‘high-level’ meeting.
A Saudi-Turkish team last night went to the consulate to investigate the disappearance. Cleaners were also seen entering the building hours ahead of their arrival. Claims that the Gulf state is set to admit killing Mr Khashoggi came after Donald Trump said he was sending the US Secretary of State to Saudi Arabia ‘immediately’ to discuss the journalist’s fate.
He added that the disappearance may have been the work of ‘rogue killers’.
The President yesterday confirmed he had phoned Saudi leader King Salman.
He tweeted: ‘Just spoke to the King of Saudi Arabia who denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened “to our Saudi Arabian citizen”.
‘He said that they are working closely with Turkey to find answer. I am immediately sending our Secretary of State to meet with King!’
Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State, was expected to visit Turkey afterwards. After the call with King Salman, Mr Trump told reporters the Saudi leader’s denial was ‘very, very strong’. He added: ‘It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?’
Britain, France and Germany were united in their support for Mr Trump’s calls for an explanation.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt confirmed his support for an investigation during a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu yesterday. He said: ‘The UK fully supports the Turkish investigation into the incident. We have been urging Saudi Arabia to co-operate fully.
‘ There remain questions about the disappearance of Mr Khashoggi that only Saudi Arabia can answer.’
Saudi Arabia has denied all involvement and King Salman ordered an internal investigation into the case.
The Gulf state defied threats of sanctions by the West over the case on Sunday, by vowing to ‘match any action with a bigger one’.
The state- controlled Saudi Press Agency said: ‘The kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats or attempts to undermine it.’
Mr Khashoggi was living in self-imposed exile in the US and writing for the Washington Post before he vanished.
The Saudi currency, the riyal, fell to a two-year low following the affair.
Its stock market tumbled seven per cent on Sunday, and business leaders including Sir Richard Branson have pulled out of an upcoming investment forum nicknamed ‘Davos in the Desert’.
Meanwhile, oil prices rose by 1.8 per cent after Saudi Arabia issued a veiled threat to cut production if the US imposes sanctions.
‘Denies any knowledge’