Pompeo meets Erdogan after talks with Saudis on missing journalist

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Europe

00:54

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday met with visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Ankara, amid the disappearance of a Saudi journalist attracting worldwide concern.

Erdogan received Pompeo at Ankara's Esenboga Airport in the morning, after the latter's prior visit to Saudi Arabia over the case of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Washington Post journalist who has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu provided no details following Pompeo's two 40-minute meetings at the airport with Cavusoglu and Erdogan, describing them only as "beneficial and fruitful." Pompeo did not address reporters.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday said Turkey may interrogate officials at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul if needed, underlining the importance of a transparent investigation.

During Pompeo's visit, top diplomats on both sides are expected to discuss bilateral and regional issues including Syria, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

On Monday, a Turkish investigation team conducted a nine-hour search in the Saudi consulate building in Istanbul, after Turkey and Saudi Arabia agreed to work together on the probe.

(Cover photo: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets with visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, October 17, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency