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SAUDI-US-DIPLOMACY-KHASHOGGI
US senator says Saudi crown prince must be ‘dealt with’ over Khashoggi
murder
ANKARA, Jan 19, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A key US senator on Saturday said the
Saudi crown prince was responsible for Jamal Khashoggi’s murder and must be
“dealt with”, as he threatened new sanctions.
Republican Lindsey Graham, an influential ally of President Donald Trump,
has previously said that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was complicit in
the grisly killing of Washington Post contributor Khashoggi in October.
“I have concluded that the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the
United States cannot move forward until MBS has been dealt with,” Graham
said, using the initials for the crown prince.
Graham also threatened new sanctions against those suspected of
involvement in the murder during a press conference in Ankara.
Western countries including the US, France and Canada have placed
sanctions on nearly 20 Saudi nationals as the case has tarnished Riyadh’s
international reputation.
“We will start sanctioning those involved in the killing of Mr Khashoggi.
We’ll make a definitive statement that MBS knew about it and is responsible
for it and come up with a series of sanctions,” the South Carolina lawmaker
said.
Turkey says Khashoggi was killed by a team of 15 Saudis who strangled him
during a visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain
paperwork ahead of his upcoming marriage.
The remains of the insider turned critic of the kingdom have yet to be
found, three months after this murder.
Riyadh has denied any claims of the crown prince’s involvement but the
case has caused strains with Washington.
Earlier this month the trial of 11 accused opened in Saudi Arabia with the
attorney general seeking the death penalty for five defendants.
Graham acknowledged that he had been “enthusiastic” in his support of
Prince Mohammed but accepted he had been “wrong”.
“What has transpired in the last couple of years is unnerving to say the
least,” he said.
Graham said the sanctions were intended to send the message that the
murder was “not what you do if you’re an ally of the United States”.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1735 hrs