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Murder of Khashoggi ‘premeditated’: Saudi prosecutor
RIYADH, Oct 25, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Saudi Arabia said Thursday the murder of
journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul was “premeditated” based on
information supplied by Turkey, state media reported.
“Information from the Turkish authorities indicates that the act of the
suspects in the Khashoggi case was premeditated,” the public prosector said
in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.
“The public prosecution continues its investigation with suspects… to
complete the course of justice.”
Saudi Arabia initially claimed Khashoggi left freely after visiting the
consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to complete paperwork for his marriage to
his Turkish fiancee.
But, as international pressure mounted, the kingdom said on Saturday that
the Washington Post contributor and critic of the Saudi government died
inside the mission when an argument degenerated into a fistfight.
It later acknowledged that he had in fact been murdered, as Turkish
officials said all along.
The kingdom sacked two top aides to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as
well three intelligence officials and arrested 18 Saudi suspects.
On Thursday, Prince Mohammed chaired the first meeting of a committee his
father King Salman has tasked with revamping the intelligence services in
light of the Khashoggi crisis.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1753 hrs