Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday there were strong indications that Jamal Khashoggi's killing was planned and stated that attempts to blame it on intelligence operatives - Riyadh has suggested it was a rogue operation - "will not satisfy us."
Erdoğan said that he does not doubt Saudi King Salman's sincerity, without elaborating. He also said the whereabouts of Khashoggi's body were still unknown and he demanded Saudi Arabia to reveal the identity of a "local cooperator" who purportedly took the body.
"The murder of Saudi journalist Khashoggi was premeditated," Erdoğan said, adding Khashoggi’s killing was a “political murder.”
In a speech to parliament, Erdoğan did not mention Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who some U.S. lawmakers suspect ordered the killing. But he said Turkey would not complete its investigation into Khashoggi's death until all questions were answered.
Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Tuesday hailed Saudi measures on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi for “setting the course for justice”.In a statement issued by his office, Hariri said King Salman’s instructions “will keep things in perspective and will respond to the malicious campaigns against the Kingdom”.He said the Saudi actions came “within the framework that serves the path of justice and the disclosure of the whole truth”.Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia last week claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.Saudi King Salman sacked the deputy of the intelligence service and a top aide and ordered the arrest of 18 suspects over the case.On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister admitted on Sunday that Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi Consulate but argued that the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was “not aware" of it.Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir claimed that it was a “rogue operation” by individuals who exceeded their responsibilities and later tried to cover things up.Turkey says will enlighten 'nefarious murder' of KhashoggiUS in 'fact-finding phase' on Khashoggi: KushnerTurkey says Khashoggi murder complicated and 'monstrously planned'
Lebanon’s Hariri hails Saudi effort on Khashoggi murder
"Intelligence and security institutions have evidence showing the murder was planned.... Pinning such a case on some security and intelligence members will not satisfy us or the international community," the president remarked.
“Consulate cameras had been removed,” Erdoğan said, adding that “the team who committed the murder was previously notified” that Khashoggi would be at the consulate.
He said evidence proved Khashoggi was "brutally murdered,” and called for the 18 suspects in the case to stand trial in Istanbul.
“Everybody, from the instructor of the murder to the implementer, should answer to clear mankind's conscience,” he said.
Indonesia has expressed condolences over the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "Indonesia offers our deepest condolences to Jamal Khashoggi’s family," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in a joint news conference with her Saudi counterpart Adel Al-Jubeir after a meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday.During their meeting, Marsudi reportedly told her Saudi counterpart that Indonesia was very concerned regarding what happened to Khashoggi."As the situation is very concerning, the meeting aimed to state Indonesia’s stance regarding the case," she said.She also urged Saudis to conduct a transparent and thorough investigation into the case."Minister Al Jubeir stressed that Saudi are determined to uncover all the facts," she said.According to Jubeir, the Saudi Attorney General is investigating 18 suspects who have been arrested for their alleged involvement in Khashoggi’s murder.Video: Indonesian President meets Saudi Foreign Minister in BogorKhashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday admitted that Khashoggi died during a "brawl" inside the consulate.On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case last Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
Indonesia expresses condolences to Khashoggi family
In his speech, Erdoğan also said that the Saudi government formally admitted to the killing of Khashoggi 17 days after his murder.
"The Vienna convention would not allow such a'brutal murder to happen," Erdoğan stated.
"Diplomatic immunity, which is a part of the Vienna Convention, will be debated," he remarked.
Erdoğan said a Saudi team of 15 entered the consulate the day of the killing, and that three men from the team went on an exploration trip to Belgrad forest in Istanbul and Yalova, a 90-kilometre (55 mile) drive south of Istanbul.
The website of an international Saudi investment conference hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been attacked by hackers.On the homepage of the 'Future Investment Initiative' website, hackers posted a fake image showing bin Salman holding a sword standing behind the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi.The conference, nicknamed Davos in the Desert and slated to run Oct. 23 - 25, is bin Salman's attempt to diversify the country's oil-based economy.His plans, however, have become disrupted amid global outcry about Khashoggi's killing inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.Screenshots of the hacked website show the message: "Saudi regime is one of the sources for #Terrorism_Financing in the world.""For the sake of security for children worldwide, we urge all countries to put sanctions on the Saudi regime,” the message stated."The regime, aligned with the United States, must be kept responsible for its barbaric and inhuman action, such as killing its own citizen Jamal Khashoggi and thousands of innocent people in Yemen. The medieval Saudi regime is one of the sources of #Terrorism_Financing in the world."Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After denying knowledge of Khashoggi's whereabouts for two weeks, Saudi Arabia on Saturday said he was killed during a "brawl" inside the consulate.His body has not been recovered, nor has Saudi Arabia explained its shifting narrative on what transpired.SoftBank CEO cancels speaking engagement at Saudi conferenceSaudi stocks stumble amid Khashoggi killing falloutSaudi foreign minister pledges full probe into Khashoggi killingSaudis use charm, fierce lobbying to gain power
Website of Saudi investment conference hacked
Khashoggi vanished after entering the consulate on Oct. 2 to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage.
Erdoğan also extended his condolences to Khashoggi’s fiancée, his family and Saudi Arabia.
Khashoggi was a U.S. resident who wrote columns for the Washington Post and a critic of the Saudi government, calling for reforms.
After denying any involvement in the disappearance of Khashoggi, 59, for two weeks, Saudi Arabia on Saturday morning said he had died in a fistfight at the consulate. An hour later, another Saudi official attributed the death to a chokehold, which a senior official reiterated.
Turkey will cooperate with any international investigation probing the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Tuesday, adding that Ankara had not yet shared any information with any country on the case.The minister stated that Turkey was ready to cooperate in a possible probe into the Khashoggi case at the United Nations, international courts or institutions.Saudi Arabia has been more open to cooperation on the case since the phone call between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Saudi King Salman on Oct. 15, Çavuşoğlu said.Saudi foreign minister pledges full probe into Khashoggi killingThe minister said that it was "important" that Saudi Arabia acknowledged the killing of Khashoggi, even though it was a late statement.Khashoggi, who was a U.S. resident and strong critic of Saudi’s Crown Prince Salman, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.Khashoggi, who was a U.S. resident and strong critic of Saudi’s Crown Prince Salman, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.World not satisfied with Saudi explanation on KhashoggiOn the day of his disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.After denying knowledge of Khashoggi's whereabouts for two weeks, Saudi Arabia on Saturday said he was killed during a fight inside its Istanbul consulate.His body has not been recovered, nor has Saudi Arabia explained its shifting narrative on what transpired.Trump said Monday he is "not satisfied" with Saudi Arabia's explanation for Khashoggi's disappearance -- just days after calling it a "great first step".‘No reason’ for month delay in Khashoggi probe: TrumpTurkey-U.S. tiesThe foreign minister stated that steps will be taken in the coming days to lift U.S. sanctions on the justice and interior ministers of Turkey.Ankara’s ties with the U.S. were strained due to Washington’s support of the YPG terror group and their stance on the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), not because of the case of now freed American pastor Andrew Brunson, Çavuşoğlu said.The YPG is the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.The U.S. needs to cut support for the YPG and fully implement the Manbij roadmap, he added.The Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of terrorist YPG/PKK forces from the city in Aleppo province, northern Syria to stabilize the region.“Turkey will not allow PKK/YPG to be part of Syrian constitutional committee,” Çavuşoğlu said, adding that Russia was aware that the YPG is a terrorist organization.Two PKK terrorists 'neutralized' in SE TurkeyFM calls Washington to take action against FETÖRegarding FETÖ, Çavuşoğlu called Washington to take action against the terror group, saying that it is “unacceptable” that the U.S. hosts a group that attempted a coup in Turkey. FETÖ terrorists are led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen, who orchestrated Turkey's July 15 coup attempt and is the mastermind behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary. Since the failed coup, operations have been ongoing in the military, police and judiciary as well as in state institutions across the country to arrest suspects with alleged links to FETÖ.
Turkey has not yet shared any information with any country on Khashoggi case: FM
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on Tuesday the kingdom was committed to a thorough and complete investigation to get to the truth behind the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey.Saudi Arabia had sent a team to Turkey for a joint investigation and "uncovered evidence of a murder" in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, the minister told a news conference in Indonesia during a state visit."We expressed commitment ... to see to it that the investigation is thorough and complete and the truth is revealed and those responsible will be held to account," al-Jubeir said at the joint news conference with his Indonesian counterpart.Turkey says will enlighten 'nefarious murder' of Khashoggi"We will see to it ... that procedures and mechanisms are put in place to ensure that something like this can never happen again," he said.Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of the Saudi government, disappeared after he entered the consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 to obtain documents for his marriage.Saudi Arabia initially denied knowledge of his fate before saying he had been killed in a fight in the consulate, an explanation that has drawn international scepticism.US in 'fact-finding phase' on Khashoggi: KushnerU.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler on Sunday, but said he was still not satisfied with what he had heard about the killing.Foreign Minister al-Jubeir said 18 people had been detained and six senior government officials had already been dismissed as a result of the investigation.On Monday, al-Jubeir met Indonesian President Joko Widodo who called for a "transparent and thorough" investigation of the killing. French foreign minister says killing of Saudi journalist grave crime
Saudi foreign minister pledges full probe into Khashoggi killing
AK Party to continue cooperation with MHP
Turkey's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party will not form an alliance with the nationalist party for the 2019 local elections, but cooperation between the two parties will continue, Erdoğan said on Tuesday, after the nationalists pulled out of the alliance earlier.
The People's Alliance between AK Party and the MHP was formed this February ahead of the June presidential and parliamentary elections, and continued in some forms between the two parties.
"We see the People's Alliance as one of the most important gains of our country recently, and we want to carry it into future," Erdoğan stressed, but added that it would run independently from the MHP in the March 2019 local election.
The president said they never did anything which will harm the spirit of the alliance, adding that his party will not be involved in any action.
Turkey's opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader said on Tuesday that their party no longer seeks any alliance in the upcoming local elections in March 2019."We no longer expect, seek or plan any alliance in the local elections on March 31, 2019," Devlet Bahçeli told his party's parliamentary group.We will take part in every electoral district of Turkey with our own candidates, he said.Local elections are set to be held on March 31, 2019 across Turkey.The People's Alliance between Justice and Development (AK) Party and the MHP was formed this February ahead of the June presidential and parliamentary elections, and continued in some forms between the two parties.Erdoğan: Evidence shows Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murderedBahçeli also said that the criminals of journalist Jamal Khashoggi murder should be tried in Turkey."The scene of the crime is in Turkey, so scene of judgement will also be in Turkey," said Bahçeli."It is compulsory that the plans of the murderers and instigators on Turkey be clarified, as well as their regional and global networks," he added.Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After denying knowledge of Khashoggi's whereabouts for two weeks, Saudi Arabia on Saturday said he was killed during a fight inside its Istanbul consulate.His body has not been recovered, nor has Saudi Arabia explained its shifting narrative on what transpired.On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
Turkey's opposition MHP no longer seeks alliance in upcoming local elections, Bahçeli says