Trump, Europeans call Saudi account of Khashoggi death incomplete

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US President Donald Trump joined European leaders on Saturday in pushing Saudi Arabia for more answers about Jamal Khashoggi after Riyadh changed its story and acknowledged that the journalist died over two weeks ago at its consulate in Istanbul.

Saudi Arabia said early on Saturday that Khashoggi, a critic of the country's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had died in a fight inside the building.

Germany called that explanation "inadequate" and questioned whether countries should sell arms to Saudi Arabia, while France and the EU urged an in-depth investigation to find out what happened to the Washington Post columnist after he entered the consulate on October 2 for documents for his marriage.

Turkish officials suspect Khashoggi, a Saudi national and US resident, was killed inside the consulate by a team of Saudi agents and his body cut up.

The Khashoggi case has caused international outrage and frayed political and business ties between Western powers and US ally Saudi Arabia.

Asked during a trip to Nevada if he was satisfied that Saudi officials had been fired over Khashoggi's death, Trump said: "No, I am not satisfied until we find the answer. But it was a big first step, it was a good first step. But I want to get to the answer."

Riyadh provided no evidence on Saturday to support its account and made no mention of what had become of Khashoggi's body.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called for a full investigation and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in a joint statement with her foreign minister, said the Saudi account was not enough.

"We expect transparency from Saudi Arabia about the circumstances of his death ... The information available about events in the Istanbul consulate is inadequate," the statement said.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called into question the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia.

Trump said it was possible that Prince Mohammed had been unaware of the circumstances around the death of Khashoggi, 59. Trump said he would speak with the prince.

For Western allies, a main question in the Khashoggi affair will be whether they believe that the prince, who has been seen as a reformer, has any culpability. King Salman, 82, had handed him the day-to-day running of Saudi Arabia.

Turkish investigators are likely to find out what happened to the body "before long", a senior Turkish official said earlier on Saturday.

New Zealand condemns the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi operatives and will not be attending the upcoming Future Investment Initiative, an event in the Saudi capital of Riyadh being called Davos in the Desert, Trade Minister David Parker said in a statement on Sunday.

Saudi version

Saudi Arabia had until now strenuously denied that Khashoggi had died in the consulate.

Khashoggi's Turkish fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, tweeted in Arabic: "They have taken your body from this world, but your beautiful smile will stay in my world forever."

Saudi state media said King Salman had ordered the dismissal of five officials, including Saud al-Qahtani, a royal court adviser seen as the right-hand man to Prince Mohammed, and deputy intelligence chief Ahmed Asiri.

The crisis prompted the king to intervene, five sources with links to the Saudi royal family told Reuters.

The king also ordered a restructuring of the intelligence service, to be led by Prince Mohammed, suggesting the prince still retained wide-ranging authority.

Saudi Arabia's regional allies - including Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates - issued statements in praise of the king.

People close to Khashoggi and the government said Qahtani had tried to lure the journalist back to Saudi Arabia after he moved to Washington a year ago fearing reprisals for his views.

(Cover: Indonesian journalists hold banner asking for a complete investigation into the disappearance of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a protest in front of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 19, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Reuters