Saudi Arabia admits Khashoggi died in consulate, fires two senior officials

By Aziz El Yaakoubi

 

 

DUBAI (Reuters) - - Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has died, and said it fired two senior officials over the incident that has provoked an international outcry and strained relations between Riyadh and the West.

 

A statement from the Saudi public prosecutor said a fight broke out between Khashoggi and people who met him in the consulate and led to his death.

 

"The investigations are still underway and 18 Saudi nationals have been arrested," the statement on state media said, adding that royal court adviser Saud al-Qahtani and deputy intelligence chief Ahmed Asiri have been fired from their positions.

 

Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, went missing after entering the consulate on Oct. 2 to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage.

 

Saturday's comments marked the first time since Khashoggi went missing that the Saudis admitted to his death.

 

Turkish officials had said they believed he was killed in the building. Saudi Arabia had previously denied the allegations and said Khashoggi had left the building shortly after.

 

King Salman also ordered the formation of a ministerial committee headed by the crown prince to restructure the general intelligence agency, state media said.

 

The disappearance of Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist, strained relations between Saudi Arabia and Western allies. Arab allies have rallied to Riyadh's support, but Western pressure has intensified on Saudi Arabia to provide convincing answers.

 

Before the Saudi announcements, U.S. President Donald Trump said he might consider sanctions against Saudi Arabia over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, while emphasizing the importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship.

 

In Istanbul, Turkish prosecutors investigating Khashoggi's disappearance questioned Turkish employees of the Saudi consulate on Friday, widening the hunt for clues in a case straining Riyadh's alliance with Western powers.

 

Turkish police searched a forest on Istanbul's outskirts and a city near the Sea of Marmara for Khashoggi's remains, two senior Turkish officials told Reuters, after tracking the routes of cars that left the consulate and the consul's residence on the day he vanished.

 

Investigators have recovered samples from searches of both buildings to analyse for traces of Khashoggi's DNA.

 

Speaking to reporters in Scottsdale, Arizona, Trump said it was too early to say what the consequences for the incident might be, but that the U.S. Congress would be involved in determining the American response.

 

Asked whether Saudi sanctions were one of the measures he was considering, Trump said, "Could be, could be," though he provided no details.

 

"We're going to find out who knew what when and where. And we'll figure it out," Trump added.

 

The U.S. Congress is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans, some of whom have called for tough action against Saudi Arabia.

 

"I will very much listen to what Congress has to say. They feel very strongly about it also," Trump said.

 

Trump, who said on Thursday he believes Khashoggi is likely dead and has warned of a potential "very severe" response, has appeared unwilling to distance himself too much from the Saudis, citing Riyadh's role in countering Iranian influence in the Middle East and lucrative potential arms deals.

 

"Saudi Arabia has been a great ally, they've been a tremendous investor in the United States," Trump said, adding, "That's why this is so sad."

 

"They agreed to spend $450 billion on buying in and investing in the United States, so I hope we can keep that open. ... There are plenty of other things we can do," he said, adding, "I might know a lot by Monday. I know a lot already."

 

State-run Anadolu news agency said the Turkish prosecutor's office had obtained testimony from 20 consulate employees, and 25 more people including foreign nationals would be questioned.

 

The consulate employees questioned included accountants, technicians and a driver, Anadolu said. The investigation is being conducted by the prosecutor's terrorism and organised crime bureau, it added.

 

Turkey said it had not shared with any country audio recordings purportedly documenting Khashoggi's murder inside the consulate, dismissing reports it had passed them to the United States.

 

"We will share the results that emerge transparently with the whole world," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

 

Turkish pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak has published what it said were details from the audio, including that his torturers severed Khashoggi's fingers during an interrogation and later beheaded and dismembered him.

 

Khashoggi's disappearance has tarnished the crown prince's reputation and deepened questions about his leadership, prompting Saudi King Salman to intervene, five sources with links to the Saudi royal family told Reuters.

 

The crown prince has painted himself as the face of a vibrant new kingdom, diversifying its economy away from oil and introducing some social changes. Other moves have faced criticism, including involvement in Yemen's war, the arrest of women activists and a diplomatic dispute with Canada.

 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and senior ministers from France, Britain and the Netherlands have abandoned plans to attend an Oct. 23-25 investor conference in Riyadh.

 

On Friday, the CEOs of Deutsche Bank and ABB, plus Airbus' defence chief and energy historian Daniel Yergin, joined a list of Western business executives who have withdrawn.

 

Pakistan's prime minister and a delegation led by Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev plan to participate. Britain's BAE Systems is sending senior representatives.

 

A conference spokesperson confirmed the conference would proceed with an updated program that includes heads of state from the Arab world, Africa and Asia.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-20

11 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The crown prince has painted himself as the face of a vibrant new kingdom,

 

12 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Turkish pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak has published what it said were details from the audio, including that his torturers severed Khashoggi's fingers during an interrogation and later beheaded and dismembered him.

 

new kingdom?

10 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

A statement from the Saudi public prosecutor said a fight broke out between Khashoggi and people who met him in the consulate and led to his death.

 

What kind of fight is required by 10 men against one to result the death of the one man held by these 10 men? Why there was a fight at the first place? Intellectual journalist can easily calculate his ability to fight off 10 men and then escape the consulate, being virtually zero.

 

There was no fight. There was execution by Saudi Arabia.

Anyway, it just goes to prove the continuing aptness of the old saying: "He brought a bone saw to a fist fight."

5 minutes ago, sanemax said:

From the thread title, oh never mind, Donald it is

Lets all talk about Donald instead , yet again

You can read and talk about Trump on this thread. Perhaps it also reminds you why Trump is mentioned in this occasion. 

 

 

This article from the same wire service has a harsher tone on what is happening inside the Kingdom. Is it posible the King turns on MBS? I've always opposed capital punishment but I might make an exception to that with the Saudi Crown Prince. MBS, you live by the sword you might 

end up dying by it. (See image above)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-politics-king-insight/as-khashoggi-crisis-grows-saudi-king-asserts-authority-checks-sons-power-sources-idUSKCN1MT1LF

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

A statement from the Saudi public prosecutor said a fight broke out between Khashoggi and people who met him in the consulate and led to his death.

 

And during said fight he accidentally had his fingers chopped off, followed unfortunately by his head? They may have admitted he is dead, but their story sure sucks. He was blatantly murdered, by a team sent in to do the job, end of story, and they need to admit that too.

Now MBS has been put in charge of leading the investigation that will be completed in one month.  Kinda like Trump removing Mueller and putting Kushner, the US Crown Prince, in charge of the investigation.  Congress should get involved and slam them with sanctions and cancellation of any arms deal if a report by an independent organization is not released in one week!

Apparently he was still alive and conscious as he was held down by several men and cut up with a surgical saw.

I hope for his sake its not true.

Firing a couple of officials is just a white wash same as Thais being sent to innactive posts.

No-one seems interested in recovering the body for a  family burial?

Pompeo and Trump will never ask the Saudis questions they dont want to be asked.

Lackies.

16 minutes ago, sanemax said:

which Trump has no direct involvement with)

Seems to me that the first person that was saying that it was probably a "rogue" element that committed the murder came directly from Trump's mouth even before he supposedly spoke to the king and now they are claiming that it was a "rouge" element close to MBS but MBS had no involvement and has even been put in charge of the investigation.  Khasoggi just decided to pick a fight with at least 14 operatives, one of which had a bone saw in his pocket.

9 minutes ago, wayned said:

Seems to me that the first person that was saying that it was probably a "rogue" element that committed the murder came directly from Trump's mouth even before he supposedly spoke to the king and now they are claiming that it was a "rouge" elemnt close to MBS but MBS had no involvement and has even been put in charge of the investigation.  Khasoggi just decided to pick a fight with at least 14 operatives, one of which had a bone saw in his pocket.

Although the reality is that Trump spoke to the Saudi King first and then stated “It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?”

 

       That is quite different to what you wrote , Trump didnt say "probably" , he said "maybe, who knows" after speaking to the King of SA

Died and brutally murdered are hardly the same thing and dismissing two people hardly amounts to justice,case closed.

Troll posts removed.

30 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Although the reality is that Trump spoke to the Saudi King first and then stated “It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?”

 

       That is quite different to what you wrote , Trump didnt say "probably" , he said "maybe, who knows" after speaking to the King of SA

The relevant point is that Trump was gaslighting, as usual.

2 hours ago, Thailand said:

So what say you Trump, are you still going to supply arms to your buddies or will you tweet it was a suicide or something equally stupid.

Let me guess, if those nasty people who lied through their teeth for days,accidentally on purpose killed K say sorry all will be forgiven?

No, perhaps our Trump feels for MBS; he knows the press is the enemy of the people and produces nothing but fake news--especially that anti-trump news. I wonder if he envies MBS.

1 hour ago, darksidedog said:

And during said fight he accidentally had his fingers chopped off, followed unfortunately by his head? They may have admitted he is dead, but their story sure sucks. He was blatantly murdered, by a team sent in to do the job, end of story, and they need to admit that too.

Just stop saws sales to Saudi Arabia 

The Saudis now claim he died in a fist fight () and the despicable one thinks it's possible:

From CNN:

"I do. I do," Trump said when asked about his confidence in the explanation, which claims Khashoggi died in a fist fight at the country's consulate in Istanbul."

 

The Democrats are now seeking answers over Trump 'personal enrichment' from the Saudi government. Let's hope the mid-terms gives them the muscles to force an answer.

Certainly there's a lot to investigate:

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/19/politics/trump-saudi-arabia-khashoggi-democrats/index.html

" “Soon, drama of the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey will come to an end,” said a commentary in the pro-government Saudi Gazette. “Truly this is nothing but a comedy act that turned to international media and was orchestrated by haters and ill-wishers in Qatar who were working day and night to come up with this skit. Yes Saudis will have the last laugh at the end of this comedy act... ”

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/545845

 

Edited October 20, 20187 yr by Opl

47 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Although the reality is that Trump spoke to the Saudi King first and then stated “It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?”

 

       That is quite different to what you wrote , Trump didnt say "probably" , he said "maybe, who knows" after speaking to the King of SA

you're right Trump just spoke as PR agent for the Saudis in this " drama/comedy"

Edited October 20, 20187 yr by Opl

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Asked whether Saudi sanctions were one of the measures he was considering, Trump said, "Could be, could be," though he provided no details.

So, not going to do anything...

Edited October 20, 20187 yr by Bluespunk

2 hours ago, bristolboy said:

Anyway, it just goes to prove the continuing aptness of the old saying: "He brought a bone saw to a fist fight."

Rather, he brought his fists to a bone saw fight.  And was immediately disarmed by having them cut off.  But, we all know (except, it would seem, for Trump and his orange blossoms) the real story is he brought one man to a fifteen man ambush and was brutally murdered in a premeditated way.

39 minutes ago, Becker said:

Yes, and let's have no more posts from you complaining about posters mentioning the man-child in threads that are clearly related to or about him.

Agreed?

Obviously that poster is terribly embarrassed by Trump. Must be rough since everywhere you look Trump is talking and acting like an idiot. How this issue doesn't involve Trump when he spoke to the King and sent his Sec of State to Saudi Arabia is a head scratcher. 

Rotten nation and rotten people.....barbaric and primitive!

First they tell the world he left the consulate....now he died in a fight...and they expect the world to accept this explanation...well, Trump of course, will try and promote it!

From the David Lean movie .....

 

T.E. Lawrence: So long as the Arabs fight tribe against tribe, so long will they be a little people, a silly people--greedy, barborous and cruel.

45 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

The relevant point is that Trump was gaslighting, as usual.

I do not believe that Trump was "gaslighting" at all .

Trump spoke with the Saudi King who denied any involvement or knowledge of the killing and Trump believed that and came to a conclusion that it must have been a "rogue element" who was responsible , the orders didnt come directly from the King .

   It seems that the "rogue element" was the Prince , acting alone .

It seems like it was a personal feud between the Prince and the Journalist and thus it wasnt state sanctioned 

3 hours ago, sanemax said:

Yes , all important about what Trump does , nevermind the actual story , lets talk about it from the Trump angle 

 

Yes, Trump has barely any involvement with this story at all. 

3 minutes ago, sanemax said:

I do not believe that Trump was "gaslighting" at all .

Trump spoke with the Saudi King who denied any involvement or knowledge of the killing and Trump believed that and came to a conclusion that it must have been a "rogue element" who was responsible , the orders didnt come directly from the King .

   It seems that the "rogue element" was the Prince , acting alone .

It seems like it was a personal feud between the Prince and the Journalist and thus it wasnt state sanctioned 

Because in Saudi Arabia there is a separation between the Royal Family and the State?

In SA the royal family is the state and the Crown Prince has been its executive officer.

Your "explanation" defies common sense. 

 

12 minutes ago, sanemax said:

I do not believe that Trump was "gaslighting" at all .

Trump spoke with the Saudi King who denied any involvement or knowledge of the killing and Trump believed that and came to a conclusion that it must have been a "rogue element" who was responsible , the orders didnt come directly from the King .

   It seems that the "rogue element" was the Prince , acting alone .

It seems like it was a personal feud between the Prince and the Journalist and thus it wasnt state sanctioned 

And I should have added the most obvious point: The current Saudi explanation does not implicate the Crown Prince at all. Rather it blames it on a general who is one of those rare higher-ups who isn't a member of the Royal Family. 

Sarcastic bickering posts bickering about sarcasm have been removed as well as the replies. 

 

Some off topic trolling posts have been removed.

3 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

Because in Saudi Arabia there is a separation between the Royal Family and the State?

In SA the royal family is the state and the Crown Prince has been its executive officer.

Your "explanation" defies common sense. 

 

  It seems that it was a personal issue between the Prince and the journalist and the Prince is accountable .

   If the King have no knowledge of it , then the Saudi state cannot be held accountable .

This was the actions of a rogue Prince , rather than the Saudi state