BFF-53 Murder of Khashoggi a ‘heinous crime’: Saudi crown prince

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Murder of Khashoggi a ‘heinous crime’: Saudi crown prince

RIYADH, Oct 24, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Wednesday
denounced the murder of critic Jamal Khashoggi as a “heinous crime”,
insisting the kingdom was cooperating with Turkish authorities and “justice
will prevail”.

“The crime was very painful to all Saudis. And it is painful, heinous to
every human being in the world,” Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in his first
comments since the murder of the journalist.

“Those behind this crime will be held accountable… in the end justice
will prevail,” said during an address to the Future Investment Initiative
Forum in Riyadh.

Saudi leaders have denied involvement in Khashoggi’s murder inside Saudi
Arabia’s Istanbul consulate on October 2, pushing responsibility down the
chain of command.

But the kingdom is under mounting international pressure over the killing
amid US accusations of a monumental cover-up by the kingdom.

Prince Mohammed, widely known as MBS, said Saudi Arabia was working with
the Turkish authorities to investigate the case.

“Many are trying to exploit the Khashoggi affair to drive a wedge between
Saudi Arabia and Turkey,” he said.

“But they will not succeed as long as there is a king named Salman and a
crown prince named Mohammed bin Salman.”

BSS/AFP/FI/ 2158 hrs