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Donald Trump says 'rogue killers' may have murdered Khashoggi Donald Trump says 'rogue killers' may have murdered Khashoggi
(about 3 hours later)
Donald Trump has speculated that “rogue killers” may have been responsible for the presumed death of the Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, as he announced he was dispatching the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, to Riyadh to discuss the deepening crisis with King Salman of Saudi Arabia. Donald Trump has speculated that “rogue killers” may have been responsible for the presumed death of Jamal Khashoggi, as Turkish investigators finally gained access to the Saudi consulate, 13 days after the missing Washington Post columnist was last seen there.
After speaking to the Saudi king by phone, the US president said Salman “denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened” to the journalist and was “working closely with Turkey” to find out what happened to him. Turkish officials were allowed into the consulate in Ankara only after Saudi staff, consular visitors and a team of cleaners equipped with mops, buckets and disinfectant had been allowed into the building.
The investigators arrived in unmarked black cars late on Monday, and made no comment to journalists outside the consulate. As night fell, a crime scene truck arrived, along with a police car with Ankara plates.
Every now and again, a bewildered Saudi citizen poked his or her head out of the wrought iron gate, before running the gauntlet of dozens of cameras.
It was unclear what evidence might still be available, nearly two weeks after Khashoggi’s disappearance.
Saudi Arabia has angrily rejected any suggestion it was involved in interrogating Khashoggi, who had visited the consulate on a planned trip in relation to his forthcoming marriage. It has offered no explanation for his disappearance or any pictures of him leaving the consulate.
Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the Saudi monarch, King Salman, announced on Sunday night that a deal had been made for a “jointing working group” to examine the case, which gave a distinctly political feel to the probe.
The US president has threatened “severe punishment” if it turns out Khashoggi was killed in the consulate, but after speaking to the Saudi king by phone, Trump said on Monday that Salman “denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened” to the journalist.
“The denial was very, very strong,” Trump told reporters. “It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?”“The denial was very, very strong,” Trump told reporters. “It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?”
“All I can do is report what he told me. He told me in a very firm way that they had no knowledge of it. He said it very strongly,” Trump said. “He told me in a very firm way that they had no knowledge of it. He said it very strongly,” Trump said.
The president’s claim that rogue elements may be responsible for Khashoggi’s disappearance implies he accepts that the journalist has been murdered – but is seeking a way out of the crisis that somehow absolves the Saudi royal court.The president’s claim that rogue elements may be responsible for Khashoggi’s disappearance implies he accepts that the journalist has been murdered – but is seeking a way out of the crisis that somehow absolves the Saudi royal court.
Turkey has already published details of a group of 15 men – some from Saudi intelligence – who arrived in Istanbul at the time of Khashoggi’s disappearance. Nine of the men arrived on a private jet from Riyadh.Turkey has already published details of a group of 15 men – some from Saudi intelligence – who arrived in Istanbul at the time of Khashoggi’s disappearance. Nine of the men arrived on a private jet from Riyadh.
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!
The Trump administration is a close political and commercial ally of the Saudi kingdom and would prefer to smooth over the crisis in relations between Turkey, and Riyadh – but is also under pressure to ensure a credible investigations takes place.The Trump administration is a close political and commercial ally of the Saudi kingdom and would prefer to smooth over the crisis in relations between Turkey, and Riyadh – but is also under pressure to ensure a credible investigations takes place.
In a first step towards such an inquiry, Saudi Arabia on Monday ended a week-long impasse by agreeing to let Turkish investigators enter its consulate in Istanbul, where Khashoggi was last seen entering on 2 October, to undertake a full search. The case has provoked an international outcry, with European allies urging “a credible investigation” and accountability for those responsible.
It has also launched an internal investigation into the episode after an instruction from King Salman, father of the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, whom Khashoggi had frequently criticised.
The case has provoked an international outcry, with Trump threatening “severe punishment” if it turns out Khashoggi was killed in the consulate, and European allies urging “a credible investigation” and accountability for those responsible. The White House has brushed aside threats by Saudi Arabia that it may economically retaliate for any US punitive action imposed over the suspected murder.
The kingdom agreed in principle on Friday to launch a joint investigation into Khashoggi’s disappearance in conjunction with Turkish police, but a search of the consulate was delayed by disagreements over the terms.The kingdom agreed in principle on Friday to launch a joint investigation into Khashoggi’s disappearance in conjunction with Turkish police, but a search of the consulate was delayed by disagreements over the terms.
Turkish officers wanted to take in solvents to detect traces of blood, while the Saudis were insisting on a more limited search. Turkish sources repeated claims that it has audio of Khashoggi being killed inside the consulate, a revelation that implies the Turkish government was bugging the embassy.Turkish officers wanted to take in solvents to detect traces of blood, while the Saudis were insisting on a more limited search. Turkish sources repeated claims that it has audio of Khashoggi being killed inside the consulate, a revelation that implies the Turkish government was bugging the embassy.
Khashoggi has been missing since he entered the consulate a fortnight ago and is presumed to have been murdered. Leaks from the Turkish investigation suggest Khashoggi was interrogated by a Saudi team shortly before he died, with his body then dismembered either in the consulate or at the consul-general’s nearby residence. Khashoggi has been missing since he entered the consulate a fortnight ago and is presumed to have been murdered.
Cleaners were seen entering the embassy on Monday in advance of the investigators entering the building. Turkish investigators believe Khashoggi was first interrogated in the consul general’s office on the building’s second floor, before being dragged into a second room, by a team of assassins. The Turkish team believe that his body was eventually dismembered in a third room.
A Saudi team that came to Turkey from Riyadh at the time of Khashoggi’s disappearance left hours after his presumed murder. The video footage of this team, and the fact that the flew into Istanbul on Saudi A Saudi team that came to Turkey from Riyadh at the time of Khashoggi’s disappearance left hours after his presumed murder.
Salman spoke to the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on Sunday, and it is likely this call ended the impasse. The foreign ministers of Germany, France and the UK, also on Sunday, demanded Saudi Arabia allow a complete and full investigation. Khashoggi was a critic of the regime, in effect led by Mohammed Bin Salman since his father appointed him crown prince in June 2017. There have been suggestions Khashoggi was previously concerned he was about to be captured by the Saudi court.
Saudi Arabia has angrily rejected any suggestion it was involved in interrogating Khashoggi, who had visited the consulate on a planned trip in relation to his forthcoming marriage. It has offered no explanation for his disappearance or any pictures of him leaving the consulate.
Khashoggi was a critic of the regime in effect led by Bin Salman since his father appointed him crown prince in June 2017. There have been suggestions Khashoggi was previously concerned he was about to be captured by the Saudi court.
Western diplomats have privately expressed concern that Saudi Arabia could have used the lengthy interim since 2 October to remove any traces of Khashoggi’s interrogation.Western diplomats have privately expressed concern that Saudi Arabia could have used the lengthy interim since 2 October to remove any traces of Khashoggi’s interrogation.
Lurid accounts of his alleged death have appeared in the Turkish press, based on apparent government sources, but ministers have been wary of repeating the claims in public.Lurid accounts of his alleged death have appeared in the Turkish press, based on apparent government sources, but ministers have been wary of repeating the claims in public.
Little has been said in public about the terms of the joint investigation, its timetable, terms of reference or likelihood of findings being published. Equally, no detail has been given concerning the internal investigation. Little has been said in public about the terms of the joint Turkish-Saudi investigation, its timetable, terms of reference or likelihood of findings being published. Equally, no detail has been given concerning the internal investigation.
On Monday Turkish investigators – who had been willing to talk for much of the past nine days – were now more cautious. So too were Turkish journalists, one of whom said that his outlet had been instructed to focus less on the apparent crime and more on the political settlement.
The scope for Erdoğan and the Saudi royal family coming to a wider accommodation on other issues – such as the future of Syria, their mutual economies or oil prices – in the context of the investigation are multiple.The scope for Erdoğan and the Saudi royal family coming to a wider accommodation on other issues – such as the future of Syria, their mutual economies or oil prices – in the context of the investigation are multiple.
The Turkish lira, under intense attack for months, strengthened on Monday, probably on news of a rapprochement between the US and Turkey, prompted by the Turkish court’s release of Andrew Brunson, a US pastor held in captivity for two years.The Turkish lira, under intense attack for months, strengthened on Monday, probably on news of a rapprochement between the US and Turkey, prompted by the Turkish court’s release of Andrew Brunson, a US pastor held in captivity for two years.
By contrast, the Saudi stock exchange was hit by severe losses on Sunday and a slide in the value of the riyal.By contrast, the Saudi stock exchange was hit by severe losses on Sunday and a slide in the value of the riyal.
In a sign of possible tactical tensions within the kingdom, Saudi officials threatened reprisals against any country that imposed sanctions on Riyadh. However, its embassy in Washington later tweeted its gratitude to the US for showing restraint and not jumping to conclusions.In a sign of possible tactical tensions within the kingdom, Saudi officials threatened reprisals against any country that imposed sanctions on Riyadh. However, its embassy in Washington later tweeted its gratitude to the US for showing restraint and not jumping to conclusions.
To help clarify recently issued Saudi statement, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia extends it appreciation to all, including the US administration, for refraining from jumping to conclusions on the ongoing investigation. https://t.co/AhcsVkn7CyTo help clarify recently issued Saudi statement, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia extends it appreciation to all, including the US administration, for refraining from jumping to conclusions on the ongoing investigation. https://t.co/AhcsVkn7Cy
Saudi Arabia has also been activating its diplomatic network of allies to issue statements in support of Riyadh.Saudi Arabia has also been activating its diplomatic network of allies to issue statements in support of Riyadh.
Trump has been Riyadh’s strongest ally over the past 18 months and the kingdom is aware it must try not to alienate either the White House or key senators in Congress.Trump has been Riyadh’s strongest ally over the past 18 months and the kingdom is aware it must try not to alienate either the White House or key senators in Congress.
Jamal KhashoggiJamal Khashoggi
Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa
TurkeyTurkey
King SalmanKing Salman
Mike PompeoMike Pompeo
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