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Jamal Khashoggi: CIA 'blames Saudi prince for murder' Jamal Khashoggi: CIA 'blames Saudi prince for murder'
(about 2 hours later)
The CIA believes that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to US media reports.The CIA believes that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to US media reports.
Sources close to the agency said it had assessed the evidence in detail.Sources close to the agency said it had assessed the evidence in detail.
It is understood there is no "smoking gun" but US officials think such an operation would need the prince's approval.It is understood there is no "smoking gun" but US officials think such an operation would need the prince's approval.
Saudi Arabia has called the claim false and insisted that the crown prince knew nothing about plans for the killing.Saudi Arabia has called the claim false and insisted that the crown prince knew nothing about plans for the killing.
It says Khashoggi was killed as a result of a "rogue operation".It says Khashoggi was killed as a result of a "rogue operation".
Meanwhile, US Vice-President Mike Pence vowed on Saturday to hold Khashoggi's killers to account. US President Donald Trump said he had yet to be briefed by the CIA on its reported findings but would speak to them.
Speaking on the sidelines of a summit in Papua New Guinea, he said the US was "determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder". As he has done since news of Khashoggi's killing emerged, he stressed the importance of Saudi Arabia to the US.
The journalist was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October. His body has not been found. "They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development," he said. "I have to take a lot of things into consideration."
Turkey insists the order to kill him came from the highest levels. While there has been widespread international condemnation of Khashoggi's murder there has been little in the way of substantial action.
The journalist was killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October to obtain a marriage document. His body has not been found.
Turkey also insists the order to kill him came from the highest levels.
What is the CIA's finding based on?
The Washington Post, which Khashoggi worked for, says the CIA assessment was based partly on a phone call made by the crown prince's brother, Prince Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi ambassador to the US.The Washington Post, which Khashoggi worked for, says the CIA assessment was based partly on a phone call made by the crown prince's brother, Prince Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi ambassador to the US.
Prince Khalid allegedly called Khashoggi at the direction of his brother and gave him assurances that he would be safe to go to the consulate.Prince Khalid allegedly called Khashoggi at the direction of his brother and gave him assurances that he would be safe to go to the consulate.
Prince Khalid, now back in Saudi Arabia, said on Twitter that he had not been in contact with Khashoggi for nearly a year. He said he had never suggested Khashoggi - who had been in London for a conference until the day before his disappearance - should go to Turkey for any reason. Prince Khalid, now back in Saudi Arabia, said on Twitter that he had not been in contact with Khashoggi for nearly a year.
This denial is being carried prominently in Saudi media, the BBC's Sebastian Usher in Riyadh reports. He said he had never suggested Khashoggi - who had been in London for a conference until the day before his disappearance - should go to Turkey for any reason.
Neither the White House nor the US State Department has commented on the reports, but sources say they have been informed of the CIA's conclusions.
It is understood agents have also examined a call made to a senior aide of Crown Prince bin Salman by the team that carried out the killing.It is understood agents have also examined a call made to a senior aide of Crown Prince bin Salman by the team that carried out the killing.
Sources quoted in the US media stressed that there was no single piece of evidence linking the crown prince directly to the murder, but officials believe such an operation would have needed his approval.Sources quoted in the US media stressed that there was no single piece of evidence linking the crown prince directly to the murder, but officials believe such an operation would have needed his approval.
"The accepted position is that there is no way this happened without him being aware or involved," the Washington Post quoted a source as saying.
What do the Saudis say happened to Khashoggi?What do the Saudis say happened to Khashoggi?
At a news conference in Riyadh on Thursday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Shalaan bin Rajih Shalaan said Khashoggi was given a lethal injection and his body was dismembered inside the consulate after his death.At a news conference in Riyadh on Thursday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Shalaan bin Rajih Shalaan said Khashoggi was given a lethal injection and his body was dismembered inside the consulate after his death.
The body parts were then handed over to a local "collaborator" outside the grounds, he added. A composite sketch of the collaborator has been produced and investigations are continuing to locate the remains. The body parts were then handed over to a local "collaborator" outside the grounds, he added.
Eleven people have been charged over the journalist's death and the prosecutor is seeking the death penalty for five of them. A composite sketch of the collaborator has been produced and investigations are continuing to locate the remains.
Mr Shalaan did not identify any of those charged with the murder. Eleven unidentified people have been charged over the journalist's death and the prosecutor is seeking the death penalty for five of them.
Khashoggi, who wrote a monthly column in the Washington Post, disappeared after entering his country's consulate in Istanbul to obtain a marriage document. Damning case but no smoking gun
Turkish officials insist his murder was premeditated and carried out by a team of Saudi agents.
On Friday, funeral prayers took place for the murdered writer in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Khashoggi's son, Salah, met mourners in Jeddah while hundreds attended prayers in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, as well as in Istanbul.
Analysis
By Frank Gardner, Security Correspondent, BBC NewsBy Frank Gardner, Security Correspondent, BBC News
The reported CIA assessment that MBS ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi largely matches those in other Western capitals, including London.The reported CIA assessment that MBS ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi largely matches those in other Western capitals, including London.
The purported intercepted phone call - denied by the Saudis - between MBS's brother in Washington, Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Khashoggi, urging him to visit the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, would appear to be at the behest of the crown prince.The purported intercepted phone call - denied by the Saudis - between MBS's brother in Washington, Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Khashoggi, urging him to visit the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, would appear to be at the behest of the crown prince.
A second intercepted phone call was from the hit team on the day of the murder to someone inside MBS's inner circle in Riyadh. Again, it is hard to believe this would have been without the Crown Prince's knowledgeA second intercepted phone call was from the hit team on the day of the murder to someone inside MBS's inner circle in Riyadh. Again, it is hard to believe this would have been without the Crown Prince's knowledge
Taken together with the SIGINT (signals intelligence), the case against MBS is damning but still circumstantial.Taken together with the SIGINT (signals intelligence), the case against MBS is damning but still circumstantial.
Government officials do not believe there is a metaphorical "smoking gun" that explicitly ties MBS to the murder. But drawing on well-established diplomatic and intelligence contacts, they know that in that part of the world nothing gets done without sign-off from the top.Government officials do not believe there is a metaphorical "smoking gun" that explicitly ties MBS to the murder. But drawing on well-established diplomatic and intelligence contacts, they know that in that part of the world nothing gets done without sign-off from the top.
In the tightly controlled Arab Gulf states there is simply no such thing as "a rogue operation," as Saudi statements have described it. Meanwhile the glaring inconsistencies in the official Saudi explanations have only deepened suspicions of a state-sponsored cover-up.In the tightly controlled Arab Gulf states there is simply no such thing as "a rogue operation," as Saudi statements have described it. Meanwhile the glaring inconsistencies in the official Saudi explanations have only deepened suspicions of a state-sponsored cover-up.