U.S. President Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed concern Monday over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was last seen visiting the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul.
“I am concerned about it. I don’t like hearing about it. Hopefully that will sort itself out. Right now nobody knows anything about it. But there’s some pretty bad stories going around. I do not like it,” Trump told reporters on the White House lawn as he was returning from a trip by helicopter to Orlando, Florida.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo later called on the Saudi government to support a “thorough investigation” into the matter.
“As the President has conveyed, the United States is concerned by his disappearance. State Department senior officials have spoken with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through diplomatic channels about this matter.
A group of activists stage demonstration in support of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on October 07, 2018.
Activists demonstrate in support of missing Saudi journalist
“We call on the government of Saudi Arabia to support a thorough investigation of Mr. Khashoggi's disappearance and to be transparent about the results of that investigation," he said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, senior Republican Senator Lindsay Graham reacted strongly to the news.
Riyadh must provide "honest answers," Graham said on his Twitter account, adding his position is shared by fellow Senators Bob Corker, a Republican, and Ben Cardin, a Democrat.
“We agree if there was any truth to the allegations of wrongdoing by the Saudi government it would be devastating to the US-Saudi relationship and there will be a heavy price to be paid — economically and otherwise," Graham said.
"Our country’s values should be and must be a cornerstone of our foreign policy with foes and allies alike," he added.
Khashoggi, a journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
Earlier Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the Saudi consulate to prove whether or not Khashoggi exited the building after entering, saying the consulate officials "can't get away with [simply] saying 'he left the building'."
Turkish police investigating the case said Saturday that 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and entered the consulate while Khashoggi was inside.
Istanbul prosecutors are investigating the incident, while the consulate said on Twitter that it was working in coordination with Turkish authorities.
Turkey said it expects "full cooperation" from Saudi authorities in finding the missing journalist.
Turkey on Monday conveyed its expectation of "full cooperation" from Saudi Arabia in search of the missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.According to a diplomatic source, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Ankara Waleed A. M. Elkhereiji was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Sunday."Deputy foreign minister Sedat Onal invited Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the Ministry yesterday. Our expectation of full cooperation during the investigation process [on missing journalist] was conveyed to him," said a diplomatic source.Jamal Khashoggi, journalist and regular columnist for the Washington Post, has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.Erdoğan says still has positive expectations on Saudi journalist's conditionTurkish police investigating the case had said in a statement Saturday that 15 Saudis, including several officials, had arrived in Istanbul on two planes and had entered the consulate while Khashoggi was inside.The Turkish police in Istanbul has been keeping an eye on the comings and goings at the Saudi consulate since the time -- according to the journalist's fiancee – Khashoggi entered the building.The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul initiated an investigation on the day of the incident while the consulate also said on Twitter that it was working in coordination with Turkish authorities.Video: Activists demonstrate in support of missing Saudi journalist‘Jamal Khashoggi was murdered’Turkey says authorities have concrete information on missing Saudi journalist
Ankara expects Riyadh’s cooperation during probe into missing Saudi journalist
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday stated that he still has positive expectations on the condition of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who has been missing for six days. “I still have good expectations. We hope not to come across an undesirable situation about missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi,” he said. “As president, I am following the situation. Whatever the result, we will inform the world of it,” he added.Erdoğan told reporters that authorities were looking into all camera records and monitoring incoming and outgoing airport transits, but added that Turkey would await the results of the prosecutor's investigation.Khashoggi, a former newspaper editor in Saudi Arabia and adviser to its former head of intelligence, left the country last year saying he feared retribution for his growing criticism of Saudi policy in the Yemen war and its crackdown on dissent.On Tuesday he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to get documents for his forthcoming marriage. Saudi officials say he left shortly afterwards but his fiancee, who was waiting outside, said he never came out."The initial assessment of the Turkish police is that Mr Khashoggi has been killed at the consulate of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul. We believe that the murder was premeditated and the body was subsequently moved out of the consulate," one of two Turkish officials said on Saturday.‘Jamal Khashoggi was murdered’Turkey says authorities have concrete information on missing Saudi journalistTurkey requesting IMF help is ‘out of the question’He also stated that Turkey was far from needing an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan or related technical assistance.“Turkey is resolutely standing against attacks targeting its economic independence. Turkey has closed the IMF chapter, not to be reopened again,” he said.“Our economic indicators are in a very good situation. Turkey’s path crossing with the IMF is out of the question,” he added.The lira has lost more than 40 percent of its value this year over a diplomatic row between Ankara and Washington, which Erdoğan deemed an economic war.Turkish FinMin says to announce strong program against inflation
Erdoğan says still has positive expectations on Saudi journalist's condition
The alleged murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside a Saudi consulate building in Istanbul has drawn backlash from the United States.The journalist and regular columnist in the Washington Post has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.A Reuters report on Saturday said that Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate building after being detained for several days. Journalists and authorities alike in the U.S. have spoken against Saudi actions.Khashoggi is known to have been critical of the Saudi domestic and foreign policies.Washington Post editorial page editor and colleague of Khashoggi, Fred Hiatt said that if it had indeed occurred, the murder was a “monstrous and unfathomable act".U.S. Senator and Foreign Relations Committee member Chris Murphy tweeted that if true, the killing should represent a “fundamental break” in U.S.-Saudi relations.Video: Turkey investigates disappearance of Saudi journalistMurphy had previously demanded the Saudi government “provide an answer” on the whereabouts of Khashoggi.Turkish police investigating the case had said in a statement yesterday that 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was inside.The Turkish police in Istanbul has been keeping an eye on the entry and exits at the Saudi Consulate since the time, Khashoggi entered the building, his fiancée said.The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul initiated an investigation on the day of the incident while the consulate also said on Twitter that it was working in coordination with Turkish authorities.Turkish police believe Saudi journalist Khashoggi was killed in consulate
Missing Saudi journalist sparks backlash from US