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The Saudi Embassy in Washington canceled its annual celebration of the country's National Day, according to multiple reports Monday.
The embassy reportedly sent an email to attendees saying the event, originally scheduled for Thursday was canceled, but did not give a reason.
Saudi National Day is a holiday in Saudi Arabia that celebrates the renaming of the country by King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud in 1932.
The move comes amid outcry about the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul Oct. 2.
Also on Oct. 2, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the building while Khashoggi was also inside, Turkish police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.
Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation of what happened to Khashoggi, while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S., and the U.K. -- are pressing for the mystery to be cleared up as soon as possible.
On Monday, Turkish and Saudi officials arrived at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul for a joint probe of into Khashoggi.
Turkish and Saudi teams investigating the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi two weeks ago left the Saudi consulate in Istanbul early on Tuesday after a nine-hour search of the building, Reuters witnesses said.While the search was being carried out, CNN and the New York Times reported that Saudi Arabia was preparing to acknowledge Khashoggi's death in a botched interrogation and U.S. President Donald Trump speculated "rogue killers" may be responsible. The consulate was the last place Khashoggi was seen before he vanished on Oct. 2.Trump dispatched Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to meet King Salman over the case that has strained the Americans' relationship with the Saudis, carefully cultivated by the U.S. president.Saudi Arabia to admit Khashoggi was killed: reportA Turkish crime scene investigation team of around 10 people left the consulate before 5 am (0200 GMT) after completing a search early on Tuesday, one witness said. A Turkish prosecutor left around 1-1/2 hours later, followed shortly after by a Saudi team that departed in three vehicles, another witness said.Four forensic vehicles arrived outside the consulate and took away soil samples as well as a metal door from the garden, the Reuters witness said. A police dog was part of the search team.A Turkish diplomatic source had earlier said that a joint Turkish-Saudi team would search the consulate.Turkish police have audio showing Khashoggi was killed at consulateKhashoggi, a U.S. resident, Washington Post columnist and leading critic of the powerful Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, vanished after entering the consulate in Istanbul to get marriage documents. Turkish officials say they believe he was murdered there and his body removed.Citing two unidentified sources, CNN reported on Monday that Saudi Arabia was preparing a report that would acknowledge Khashoggi was killed as the result of an interrogation that went wrong. The Saudi government could not be reached immediately for comment on the CNN report.The New York Times, citing a person familiar with the Saudi plans, reported the crown prince had approved an interrogation or rendition of Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government, it said, would shield the prince by blaming an intelligence official for the bungled operation.EU Foreign Affairs Council to address Khashoggi caseThe case has provoked an international outcry against Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, with more media and business executives pulling out of a planned investment conference there this month.Members of his family called for an investigation, in a statement released on Monday."We are sadly and anxiously following the conflicting news regarding the fate of our father after losing contact with him two weeks ago," they said."The strong moral and legal responsibility which our father instilled in us obliges us to call for the establishment of an independent and impartial international commission to inquire into the circumstances of his death."Video: Turkish, Saudi teams search Saudi consulate building for nine hoursTurkish experts try to crack passwords of Khashoggi’s iPhones
Teams probing Saudi journalist's disappearance leave Istanbul consulate
Saudi Arabia is preparing to admit it killed missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in an interrogation gone wrong, according to a report Monday.The forthcoming admission could bring to an end questions over Khashoggi's fate. The Washington Post journalist has been missing since Oct. 2 when he was last seen entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.The Saudis will claim in a report they intended to abduct Khashoggi from Turkey, but accidentally killed him during an interrogation, CNN reported, citing two anonymous sources.The network cited one source who cautioned the report is still being prepared and could be changed. Another source told CNN the report is likely to shift blame from top Saudi officials, arguing the plot was carried out without official clearance and transparency while seeking to place blame on those immediately involved.Khashoggi has long been feared killed at the consulate after he entered and was never seen exiting.U.S. President Donald Trump raised the possibility that "rogue killers" could have been responsible for Khashoggi's disappearance after speaking over the telephone with Saudi King Salman for 20 minutes earlier Monday.Trump said Salman "firmly denies" any knowledge of Khashoggi's disappearance"He didn’t really know, maybe, I don’t want to get into his mind but it sounded to me like maybe it could have been rogue killers, who knows? We’re going to try get to the bottom of it very soon but his was a flat denial," Trump told reporters.Turkish and Saudi officials arrived earlier Monday at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for a joint probe into Khashoggi's case.On the same day Khashoggi went missing 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was inside, Turkish police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.A National Security Council spokeswoman told Anadolu Agency it is imperative Turkish authorities with Saudi Arabia's full and transparent support are able to thoroughly investigate the case and release results officially once the probe is concluded.The spokeswoman further voiced support for Turkish investigators' efforts, and said she would not prejudge the inquiry's outcome while noting Washington stands ready to assist.Turkish police have audio showing Khashoggi was killed at consulateTrump: Pompeo to meet with Saudi king amid Khashoggi probesEU Foreign Affairs Council to address Khashoggi caseTurkey, Saudi Arabia set to start Khashoggi probeTurkish experts try to crack passwords of Khashoggi’s iPhones
Saudi Arabia to admit Khashoggi was killed: report