U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
The U.S. is revoking the visas of some Saudi officials who have been implicated in the slaying of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday.
The officials work for a variety of Saudi offices, including the royal court, the intelligence services, the foreign ministry and other Saudi ministries, but Pompeo did not specify which individuals would be affected possibly because visa records are confidential.
"The United States does not tolerate this kind of ruthless action to silence Mr. Khashoggi, a journalist, through violence," Pompeo said.
The State Department later confirmed that a total of 21 suspects would be affected by visa revocations.
The move marks Washington's first punitive measure against Riyadh following Khashoggi's death.
Addressing reporters, the top diplomat said the state and treasury departments are working to review "the applicability" of a U.S. law intended to punish human rights abusers for the individuals suspected of involvement in Khashoggi's death.
Four key senators triggered an investigation on Oct. 10 into Khashoggi's disappearance under the Global Magnitsky Act.
In a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump, the minority and majority leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the leaders of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee responsible for the State Department called on Trump to determine whether imposing sanctions "with respect to any foreign person responsible for such a violation related to Mr. Khashoggi" is warranted.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, under pressure to punish Saudi Arabia after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, said on Tuesday it would be very hard to scrap an arms deal with Riyadh worth up to $13 billion as critics have demanded.Trudeau said the 2014 agreement for light armored vehicles, signed by Canada's previous Conservative government and a Canadian unit of U.S. weapons maker General Dynamics Corp , had been written in such a way that taxpayers would have to pay a large amount of money to end it."The contract signed by the previous government ... makes it very difficult to suspend or leave that contract," Trudeau told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp, saying his Liberal administration was looking at a number of options.Saudi stocks continue decline despite support from state fundsTrudeau said that "I do not want to leave Canadians holding a billion-dollar bill because we're trying to move forward on doing the right thing." Trudeau added that he found it "incredibly frustrating" that the terms of the contract with the Saudis meant he could not discuss it in more detail.The opposition left-leaning New Democrats said on Monday in Parliament that Canada should not be arming the Saudis when they are attacking civilian targets in the war in Yemen. The New Democrats, who will be competing for the same voters as Trudeau in 2019 elections, last week called the Khashoggi matter "the latest addition in a series of horrible acts by Saudi Arabia."Trudeau repeated the government's position that Canada could suspend export permits for the armored vehicles if it determined they had been misused.UK 'concerned' to hear Khashoggi murder 'premeditated'German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday called the killing a "monstrosity" and vowed to halt German arms exports to Saudi Arabia until the case is cleared up.Trudeau repeated Ottawa's condemnation of the murder of Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and critic of the Saudi crown prince who disappeared three weeks ago after entering Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul."Countries around the world need to know that there are things they simply cannot do, and killing a journalist who disagrees with the regime is right up there at the top," Trudeau said.Relations between Canada and Riyadh have been tense since a diplomatic dispute over human rights earlier this year. In August, Saudi Arabia froze ties with Ottawa after Canada urged the release of jailed civil rights activists in the kingdom.Saudi king, crown prince meet Khashoggi family membersKing Salman: Saudi Arabia to hold to account those involved in Khashoggi killingBritain says questions remain over Khashoggi killing, only Saudis have answers
Canadian PM says it would be hard to scrap big Saudi arms deal
Saudi Arabia's market fell sharply after a volatile day of trading on Tuesday, as foreign and retail investors continued to sell despite efforts from state-backed funds to limit the fallout from the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.The main index slid 1.3 percent after recovering some of its losses earlier in the session.The market weakness came on a day when a three-day investment conference opened in Riyadh that has seen a boycott by Western politicians and global chief executives in the wake of Khashoggi's killing.Last week, foreign investors sold $1.07 billion in Saudi stocks, the biggest sell-offs since the market opened to direct foreign buying in mid-2015.UK 'concerned' to hear Khashoggi murder 'premeditated'"The recent sell off has exposed some value but with all the turbulence and volatility, there is zero visibility on how things will progress and at this stage, we're not calling this a buying opportunity," Nick Wilson, chairman of London-listed Gulf Investment Fund plc, said.The wider investment community is going to hold back from building a meaningful position until there is clarity on the current events, Wilson added.But government-linked funds have been propping up Saudi Arabia's stock market since Oct. 14, when the index lost up to 7 percent in its biggest drop since December 2014. The index is down 5 percent in the month-to-date.Saudi king, crown prince meet Khashoggi family membersThe kingdom's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been indirectly supporting local stocks, using local institutions, to limit a market crash caused by the Khashoggi case, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia was also set to sign deals worth $50 billion on Tuesday at the conference.Saudi Arabian Mining (Ma'aden) rose 6.1 percent after it signed a contract with South Korea's Daelim Industrial to build an ammonia plant for about 3.35 billion riyals ($892.98 million).Saudi Arabia to allow foreigners to invest in audiovisual, land transportSaudi Industrial Export outperformed the market, jumping 9.9 percent after its third-quarter loss narrowed.Jabal Omar Development also advanced 3.7 percent after posting a third-quarter profit.Egypt's blue-chip index lost 0.5 percent with Abu Qir Fertilizers and Chemical Industries falling 8.7 percent and Alexandria Mineral sliding 11.7 percent.In Dubai, Amanat Holdings added 2.7 percent and Gulf Navigation Holding climbed 3.7 percent after Dubai Financial Market said direct deals were executed on 82 million shares of the company for 80.4 million dirhams.King Salman: Saudi Arabia to hold to account those involved in Khashoggi killingThe main index was up 0.2 percent.Nasdaq-listed DP World reversed losses to rise 4.8 percent despite reporting a 6.7 percent drop in its shipping container volumes for the third-quarter.The Abu Dhabi index inched up 0.3 percent with Arkan Building Materials jumping 12.9 percent and Emirates Driving Co rising 14.9 percent.Ras Al Khaimah Cement increased 4.5 percent after its board approved the sale of a part in the firm's equity portfolio.
Saudi stocks continue decline despite support from state funds
Trump has 120 days from the date of the letter to issue his determination.
"These penalties will not be the last word on the matter from the United States," Pompeo said. "We will continue to explore additional measures to hold those responsible accountable."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan earlier Tuesday laid out his country’s initial findings in its investigation, saying Khashoggi's murder was "premeditated".
Erdoğan said all information and evidence that has been uncovered showed Khashoggi was the victim of a brutal murder.
Saudi teams explored Istanbul's Belgrad Forest and the northwestern province of Yalova before murdering Khashoggi, Erdoğan said.
Pompeo said Ankara has been "very cooperative with us, and the Turks have told us the Saudis have cooperated with them as well”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone with family members of the slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Tuesday and sent them his condolences, pledging Turkey would do all it can to solve his murder, presidential sources said.They said Erdoğan had expressed his deep sadness at Khashoggi's killing in his call with the family members, including Khashoggi's son Abdullah.Khashoggi vanished after entering the consulate on Oct. 2 to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage.He 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.UK 'concerned' to hear Khashoggi murder 'premeditated'Saudi king, crown prince meet Khashoggi family membersKing Salman: Saudi Arabia to hold to account those involved in Khashoggi killing
Erdoğan speaks on phone wıth Khashoggi's family, sends condolences
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Tuesday he was satisfied with the Future Investment Initiative conference as he toured the venue."Great, more people more money," he told reporters.Organized by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the three-day event aims to draw investments with a view to diversifying the kingdom’s oil-based economy.Several major banks, corporations and businessmen have boycotted the conference, which is held under the shadow of an international outcry over Khashoggi’s murder at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.Saudi stocks continue decline despite support from state fundsSaudi Arabia to allow foreigners to invest in audiovisual, land transportSaudi investment conference opens amid international boycott
Saudi crown prince says satisfied with investment conference in Riyadh