Security officers are seen in front of the residence of Consul General of Saudi Arabia Mohammad al-Otaibi in Istanbul, Turkey October 16, 2018.
Saudi Arabia's consul general in Istanbul left Turkey for Riyadh on Tuesday.
Mohammad al-Otaibi left Turkey on a commercial flight hours before his residence was expected to be searched by Turkish police in relation to the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi two weeks ago.
Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate on Oct. 2. Saudi Arabia has denied any role in his disappearance.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican close to President Donald Trump, on Tuesday accused Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of ordering the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and called him a "wrecking ball" who is jeopardizing relations with the United States.Many members of the U.S. Congress, which has long had a testy relationship with Saudi Arabia, have issued strong criticism of the kingdom since Khashoggi's disappearance at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.Graham put the blame directly on the crown prince, who is known by his initials, MbS."Nothing happens in Saudi Arabia without MbS knowing it," he said in an interview with Fox News.Evidence found in Saudi consulate proving Khashoggi was killed there"I've been their biggest defender on the floor of the United States Senate," Graham said. "This guy is a wrecking ball. He had this guy murdered in a consulate in Turkey and to expect me to ignore it. I feel used and abused," Graham said."The MbS figure is to me toxic. He can never be a world leader on the world stage."Saudi Arabia denies that it had any role in Khashoggi’s disappearance. But last week, 22 senators triggered a U.S. investigation of whether human rights sanctions should be imposed over the disappearance of Khashoggi.Graham said he did not know what Trump was going to do about the incident, which involves the United States' close but complicated relationship with Saudi Arabia.Dissident prince says Saudi planned vanishing act for him as Khashoggi case heats up"I know what I'm going to do. I'm going to sanction the hell out of Saudi Arabia," Graham said. "I feel personally offended. They have nothing but contempt for us. Why would you put a guy like me and the president and in this box after all the president has done? This guy’s gotta go."Trump has taken a less aggressive stance toward the Saudis, suggesting on Monday after speaking with Saudi King Salman that perhaps "rogue killers" were behind the disappearance of Khashoggi, a sharp critic of the crown prince.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met the Saudi king and crown prince on Tuesday to discuss the disappearance of Khashoggi. Pompeo to bring info on Khashoggi from Riyadh to Ankara: Turkish FMErdoğan says some material at Saudi consulate painted over
Leading US senator accuses Saudi prince of ordering Khashoggi killing
A Turkish official said police found evidence inside the Saudi Consulate proving that missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed there, AP reported on Tuesday.Overnight, Turkish crime scene investigators entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the last place Khashoggi was seen before vanishing, for the first time and searched the premises for over nine hours.They will continue on Tuesday, expanding their search to include the residence of the Saudi consul as well as consulate vehicles.Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and leading critic of the Saudi crown prince, vanished after entering the consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Turkish officials say they believe he was murdered there and his body removed, which the Saudis strongly deny.Dissident prince says Saudi planned vanishing act for him as Khashoggi case heats upCNN and the New York Times reported Saudi Arabia was preparing to acknowledge Khashoggi's death in a botched interrogation, after denying for two weeks any role in his disappearance.Khashoggi, a familiar face on Arab talk shows, moved to Washington last year fearing retribution for his criticism of Prince Mohammed, who has cracked down on dissent with arrests.The New York Times, citing a person familiar with the Saudi plans, reported the crown prince had approved an interrogation or abduction of Khashoggi. The Saudi government, it said, would shield the prince by blaming an intelligence official for the bungled operation.Pompeo to bring info on Khashoggi from Riyadh to Ankara: Turkish FMErdoğan says some material at Saudi consulate painted overTurks, Saudis to search consul's residence in Istanbul
Evidence found in Saudi consulate proving Khashoggi was killed there
A Saudi prince living in exile in Germany, Khaled bin Farhan al-Saud, has claimed that authorities of the Kingdom planned to kidnap him, resembling the plot against prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to British publication the Independent.Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and leading critic of the Saudi crown prince, vanished after entering the consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Turkish officials say they believe he was murdered there and his body removed, which the Saudis strongly deny.The prince said that they had planned this plot against him just 10 days before Khashoggi went missing.“Over 30 times the Saudi authorities have told me to meet them in the Saudi embassy but I have refused every time,” he said. “I know what can happen if I go into the embassy,” said the 41-year-old prince. He added that the authorities promised his family a large cheque if the prince agreed to come to Egypt to meet regime officials at the consulate.CNN and the New York Times reported Saudi Arabia was preparing to acknowledge Khashoggi's death in a botched interrogation, after denying for two weeks any role in his disappearance. “Just five days ago a group tried to visit King Salman saying they were afraid for the future of the al-Saud family, they mentioned Mr Khashoggi’s case. They were all put in jail,” he added.Pompeo tells Saudis US is concerned about KhashoggiErdoğan says some material at Saudi consulate painted overKhashoggi, a familiar face on Arab talk shows, moved to Washington last year fearing retribution for his criticism of Prince Mohammed, who has cracked down on dissent with arrests.The New York Times, citing a person familiar with the Saudi plans, reported the crown prince had approved an interrogation or abduction of Khashoggi. The Saudi government, it said, would shield the prince by blaming an intelligence official for the bungled operation.
Dissident prince says Saudi planned vanishing act for him as Khashoggi case heats up
Some materials at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared two weeks ago have been painted over, Turkey's President Tayyip Erdoğan said on Tuesday.Speaking after Turkish police entered the consulate for the first time and searched the premises for nine hours, Erdoğan also told reporters that they were looking into toxic materials at the mission.Turkish officials have told Reuters that authorities have an audio recording indicating that Khashoggi was killed in the consulate, and have shared evidence with countries including Saudi Arabia and the United States. Saudi Arabia has denied any role in Khashoggi's disappearance.UN rights chief Bachelet calls for lifting of immunity in Khashoggi case"My hope is that we can reach conclusions that will give us a reasonable opinion as soon as possible, because the investigation is looking into many things such as toxic materials and those materials being removed by painting them over," Erdoğan told reporters in Ankara.A Turkish diplomatic source said the investigators planned to widen their search on Tuesday to the residence of the Saudi consul. Turkish television channels have previously shown footage of a large vehicle leaving the consulate two hours after Khashoggi vanished and parking at the consul's residence.Video: Erdoğan: Some materials at Saudi consulate painted overKhashoggi’s family calls for international inquiryTurkey could take needed steps east of EuphratesFollowing two major anti-terror operations in Syria, Turkey’s president warned on Tuesday that Turkey could also take decisive steps against the PKK/YPG terrorist presence east of the Euphrates River."If the necessary steps are not taken [by the U.S.] to the east of the Euphrates [against PKK/YPG] ... we will take the necessary steps at the highest level," Erdoğan told his party's parliamentary group.Erdoğan said that Turkey would take measures in the area "not only for the peace of our country but also for the people living in this region."US continues to arm PKK terrorists in Syria under the pretext of fighting Daesh"Up to now, Turkey has determinedly taken steps, and it will continue to do so," he added, referring to Turkey's cross-border operations in Syria since 2016 -- Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch -- meant to rid border areas of terrorist groups such as the PKK/PYD.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken 40,000 lives, including many women and children. The YPG is its Syrian branch.Erdoğan also said the government has prepared the first budget under Turkey's new presidential system."We will submit the 2019 budget to parliament tomorrow," he said.After the Planning and Budget Commission debates the budget, it would then proceed to the general assembly.Turkey’s MHP demands operation in eastern Euphrates
Erdoğan says some material at Saudi consulate painted over