Saudi Arabia: Khashoggi killing a 'mistake'
October 21, 2018
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Sunday the Saudi government did not know how journalist Jamal Khashoggi had died, or where his body was.
When asked whether the body had been cut up — and where it was — al-Jubeir said his government was working with Turkey to find out.
He added that the killing was a "rogue operation" and an "aberration," and promised that those responsible would be punished. He also said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — of whom Khashoggi has been highly critical — had not been aware of any assassination plot.
"We are determined to uncover every stone. We are determined to find out all the facts and we are determined to punish those who are responsible for this murder," al-Jubeir said in an interview with Fox News.
"There obviously was a tremendous mistake made and what compounded the mistake was the attempt to try to cover up. That is unacceptable in any government. These things unfortunately happen," al-Jubeir said.
Saudi King Salman and the crown prince have offered their condolences in a phone call to the journalist's son, Salah Khashoggi, who "expressed his sincere thanks" to the royals, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Read more: Saudi Arabia: Powerful, but not omnipotent after Khashoggi affair
Turkey promises 'naked truth'
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to provide a full account of Khashoggi's death in a speech slated for Tuesday.
"We are looking for justice here and this will be revealed in all its naked truth, not through some ordinary steps but in all its naked truth," Erdogan told a rally in Istanbul.
Turkish officials have already said Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered by a 15-man squad sent from Saudi Arabia. They say they are in possession of audio and video evidence to back up the claim, but have not released any proof.
Turkish media on Sunday said 18 Saudi nationals had been arrested in connection with the case and that some 45 people in total had been summoned for investigation.
Erdogan and US President Donald Trump had agreed in telephone talks that the circumstances leading to Khashoggi's death "should be clarified in all its aspects."
Saudi officials have said Khashoggi was killed in a "fistfight" at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, having previously insisted he had left the building. Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had entered the consulate to seek the necessary paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancee.
Read more: 'Saudis will find a scapegoat' for Khashoggi, says exiled prince
Pressure mounts for clarification
Earlier Sunday, Germany, France and Britain urged Saudi Arabia to explain how Khashoggi had died at the country's consulate.
Read more: Could Khashoggi case spell end for Saudi crown prince?
In a joint statement, the three countries said there was an "urgent need for clarification of exactly what happened." They added that the Saudi explanation needed to be backed by facts to be considered credible.
Echoing similar comments from other Western leaders, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the Saudi explanation was insufficient and that the people responsible for Khashoggi's death "must be held accountable."
rc, nm/cmk (Reuters, AFP, AP, dpa)