European Council President Donald Tusk
The only European interest is to reveal all the details of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the EU Council president said on Wednesday.
Addressing the European Parliament’s plenary session in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, Donald Tusk said the killing of Khashoggi is a "a horrible crime".
"It is not my role to state who wants to protect whose interests here. But I know one thing: the only European interest is to reveal all the details of this case, regardless of who is behind it," Tusk said.
“Even the slightest trace of hypocrisy would bring shame on us,” he added.
Turkey's president insisted on Wednesday his country would not allow those responsible for Jamal Khashoggi's killing to avoid justice, keeping up pressure on Riyadh amid global scepticism over varying Saudi accounts of the prominent journalist's death.President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Saudi authorities staged the "worst cover-up ever" in the killing of Khashoggi in Turkey this month, as the United States vowed to revoke the visas of some of those believed to be responsible."We are determined not to allow a cover-up of this murder and to make sure all those responsible - from those who ordered it to those who carried it out - will not be allowed to avoid justice," Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a speech in Ankara.He said some people were uncomfortable with him sharing evidence in a speech on Tuesday about a killing stirring global outrage and straining ties between Riyadh and the West.Video: Erdoğan says Turkey has strong evidence Khashoggi murder was ‘premeditated’But he added: "We will continue to share new evidence transparently with our counterparts to enlighten the dark sides of this murder."On Tuesday Erdoğan urged Riyadh to search "from top to bottom" to uncover those behind the death of the veteran Saudi journalist in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.CIA Director Gina Haspel, in Turkey to investigate the death of Khashoggi, has sought to hear the purported audio recording of his torture and murder, four sources familiar with her mission told Reuters.For Saudi Arabia’s allies, the question will be whether they believe that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has painted himself as a reformer, has any culpability in the killing, a possibility raised by several U.S. lawmakers.Khashoggi body double used ‘to aid cover-up’ of killing: APCONFLICTING ACCOUNTSSaudi Arabia has given conflicting accounts about Khashoggi's killing, first denying his death and later saying that Khashoggi - a U.S. resident and columnist for the Washington Post - died inside the consulate after a fight.On Sunday Riyadh called the killing a "huge and grave mistake," but sought to shield the crown prince from the widening crisis, saying Mohammed bin Salman had not been aware.Saudi Arabia has detained 18 people and dismissed five senior government officials as part of the investigation. One of those fired includes Saud al-Qahtani, a top aide to Prince Mohammed. According to two intelligence sources, Qahtani ran Khashoggi's killing by giving orders over Skype.Iran: Riyadh would not have murdered Khashoggi without US protectionTurkish security sources say that when Khashoggi entered the consulate, he was seized by 15 Saudi intelligence operatives who had flown in on two jets just hours before.The weeks of denial and lack of credible evidence in the face of allegations from Turkish officials that Khashoggi had been killed have shaken global confidence in ties with the world's top oil exporter.In the latest sign of unease, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said the killing pointed clearly to a violation of human rights that required a review of Switzerland's ties to Riyadh.Europe’s interest is to clear Khashoggi case: Tusk"On Monday, we demanded for a third time via a Saudi embassy employee that the affair be quickly explained," Cassis told Swiss tabloid Blick. "Every day, we get another smidgen of new information. That's regrettable.""The clues that are emerging centimeter by centimeter speak a clear language: A violation of human rights and the rule of law," he added. "We have to ask ourselves the question of what that means for our bilateral relations. And we will definitely do that."Separately, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, a regional rival of Saudi Arabia, said Riyadh would not have murdered Khashoggi without American protection, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). UN would investigate Khashoggi if Turkey requestsWho is al-Madani, Khashoggi’s body double?US complicity in Saudi abuses starker than before
Turkey won't let Khashoggi killers escape justice: Erdoğan
Khashoggi, 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 last week claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.
But Khashoggi's body has not been recovered, and Riyadh has yet to explain its shifting narrative on what transpired.
"Knowing your sensitivity and determination, I believe that you will not allow for Europe, the Member States or the institutions, to become involved in any ambiguous game," Tusk said.
Jamal Khashoggi was targeted inside Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Turkey and a “body double was on hand to aid in a cover-up,” The Associated Press reported on Wednesday.Three weeks after Khashoggi went missing, Saudi Arabia has offered various explanations all with conflicting accounts of what happened to the journalist.“Saudi officials tell the AP they did in fact send a team to Turkey that included a forensics expert and a member whose job was to dress in the 59-year-old writer’s clothes and pretend to be him,” The AP reported.Video: CCTV footage purports to show man resembling Khashoggi leaving consulateKhashoggi vanished after entering the Saudi consulate on Oct. 2 to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage.Soon after he went missing, Turkish officials said 15 Saudis arrived in Istanbul on the day of his disappearance in two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside.The account of the events provided to The AP by two Saudi officials confirms that the murder was premeditated, and also reveals attempts to isolate the horrific event from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.Who is al-Madani, Khashoggi’s body double?The officials said the Saudi operatives were acting on the orders of King Salman’s predecessor, King Abdullah, who sought for Saudi dissidents to be brought back to the kingdom to allegedly discuss the nation’s future.The plan was purportedly to take Khashoggi from the consulate to a “safe house” for questioning, but “the operation with Khashoggi turned violent.”“The team included a former Khashoggi colleague who advised him to return to the kingdom. When that failed, the writer, by their account, asked if he was going to be kidnapped. Told he was going to be taken to a safe house, they say he started to yell for help. That’s when an unidentified person on the team applied a chokehold, which the officials said was intended only to keep Khashoggi quiet but ended up killing him instead.”Saudi Arabia will not penalize banks that boycotted conferenceNine of the 15-member squad “panicked and made plans with a local Turkish “collaborator” to remove the body. One official said the body was rolled up in some sort of material and taken from the consulate by the collaborator.”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.G7, EU condemn Saudi journalist's murderUN would investigate Khashoggi if Turkey requestsTurkish, Saudi officials examine Saudi consulate carUS complicity in Saudi abuses starker than before'EU reaction on Khashoggi depends on Saudi steps'Trump rips Saudi Arabia's Khashoggi plotUS to pull visas of Saudis involved in Khashoggi death
Khashoggi body double used ‘to aid cover-up’ of killing: AP
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.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 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.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s speech on the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was in the spotlight of international media Tuesday.Sky News, BBC News, Euronews, CNN International, France 24, RT and Al Jazeera were among the many news outlets broadcasting Erdogan’s speech live -- which shed light on the details of the Khashoggi murder in Saudi Consulate building in Istanbul.The speech was aired live on almost all local channels in Turkey, including TRT World, Turkey’s international news channel broadcasting in English.The international news agencies Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France Presse, and Turkey’s Anadolu Agency reported the speech to their subscribers with minute-by-minute updates from the event.Speaking at his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's group meeting at parliament, Erdoğan addressed details over Turkey's investigation into the murder of Khashoggi."Murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was premeditated," Erdoğan said, adding that Turkey has strong evidence that it was planned.The speech was also followed closely by newspapers across the world.British papers including The Guardian, Financial Times, The Telegraph, The Independent and The Daily News Online have run live blogs to report the Turkish president’s statements.Video: Erdoğan says Turkey has strong evidence Khashoggi murder was ‘premeditatedUSAmerican newspapers including The Washington Post -- for which Khashoggi was a columnist -- informed their readers about the speech with live updates on social media platforms.The New York Post, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal also gave extensive coverage to the speech. The Newsweek, a political weekly magazine, updated its online version with the Turkish president's speech.GermanyGerman media widely covered Erdoğan’s remarks and reported that Turkey concluded journalist Khashoggi’s death was a planned political murder.“The Turkish president’s remarks have put into question the Saudi royal family's official version of Jamal Khashoggi’s death,” weekly Die Zeit said on its website.In a story under “It was a murder plot of the Saudis,” Bild daily reported that Erdoğan wanted to uncover the truth behind this political murder and proposed that the suspects in Khashoggi's killing be tried in Istanbul.Erdoğan’s remarks were broadcast live by German news channels, including Phoenix and n-tv.Saudi Arabia will not penalize banks that boycotted conferenceRussiaRussian media also covered Erdoğan’s speech extensively. Rossiya 24 news channel broadcast the speech with the headline “Ankara is not pleased”. Rossiya 24 highlighted Erdoğan’s remarks in which he said Khashoggi’s murder was planned.The TV channel also held live coverage from Istanbul.Russia's TASS news agency also mentioned Erdoğan’s remarks in which he said Khashoggi’s murder was planned in the opening paragraph of its news story.TASS report pointed out Erdoğan’s comment in which he said 3 separate Saudi groups came to Istanbul on the day Khashoggi went missing. The agency also included Erdogan’s chronological explanation on the Khashoggi case.Ria news agency reported on Erdoğan’s call for those involved in the murder to stand court trial in Istanbul.Kommersant’s, a Russian daily, headline reads “President Erdoğan will aid to find Saudi journalist’s murderers”.Saudi crown prince to address investment forum amid Khashoggi furoreIsraelIsraeli media also closely followed Erdoğan’s speech. While leading Israeli newspapers covered Erdoğan’s speech via their websites, they also shared prominent parts of Erdogan’s speech on their social media accounts.Times of Israel newspaper published on its website a story with the headline “Erdoğan wants to learn who ordered Khashoggi’s murder.”The newspaper reported that Erdoğan said that whoever conducted this murder should be punished.Haaretz, another Israeli daily, reported with the headline “Erdoğan asked Saudi Arabia King to extradite 18 suspects involved in the Khashoggi’s murder”.Jerusalem Post reported with the headline “Turkey’s Erdoğan says signs show Khashoggi’s killing was planned.” The daily reported that the Turkish president will not end the investigation until all questions on the case were answered.Turkish, Saudi officials examine Saudi consulate carIranIranian state television broadcast Erdoğan’s speech live. Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported on its website that “Erdogan calls for suspects involved in Khashoggi murder to stand trial in Turkey.”Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim also pointed out Erdoğan’s demand to prosecute those involved in Turkey.Mehr News Agency reported the speech with the headline “The murder was planned”. The agency also included Erdoğan’s remarks in which he said that the one who ordered the murder should be revealed.Arab worldArab TV channels also closely followed Erdogan speech by broadcasting Turkish President’s address at the parliament live.Financed by Saudi Arabia, Dubai-based Al Arabia TV channel, broadcast Erdogan speech via TRT Arabic live.On its website, Al Arabia pointed out Erdogan’s remarks in which he said: “It’s important that Saudi Arabia arrested suspects on the case”.Saudi Arabia-based Okaz newspaper focused on its report that Erdogan demanded those involved in the killing to be interrogated. The newspaper also reported that 18 suspects in Khashoggi murder should stand trial in Turkey.Another Saudi newspaper Sabq reported that Erdogan believes Saudi Arabia will cooperate to solve Khashoggi murder.An Egypt-based newspaper Dustour broadcast Erdogan speech as “breaking news.”“Erdogan wants 18 suspects to stand trial in Turkey,” the newspaper’s headline read. “Erdogan pointed out that there were so many questions waiting for answers on Khashoggi murder,” the daily reported.Another newspaper in the country Al Shorouk reported the speech as a “breaking news”. The daily’s headline reads “Erdogan: We have evidence that Khashoggi murder was premeditated”.Qatari capital Doha based Al Jazeera Arabic reported Erdogan demanded the suspects involved in the murder to stand trial in Istanbul.Iraq’s state news agency also covered Erdogan speech extensively. “Turkish leader makes public details of Khashoggi murder,” read the agency’s headline.Khashoggi went missing on Oct. 2 after he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.After denying knowledge of Khashoggi's whereabouts for days, Saudi Arabia claimed last week that he was killed during a fight inside the consulate.
World media covers Erdoğan’s speech on Khashoggi murder
Saudi Arabia's central bank governor said the kingdom will not penalize foreign banks that boycotted an investment conference in Riyadh and reiterated the country's commitment to defend its currency peg to the dollar.Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) Governor Ahmed al-Kholifey said in an interview with Al Arabiya TV on Wednesday that institutions that pulled out of the Saudi conference will still be able to apply for and obtain banking licenses to operate in the kingdom.He also reiterated the country’s commitment to defend the Saudi riyal’s peg to the dollar, adding that the current pressure to the peg was much lower than in the past when oil prices crashed.The riyal, which sank to a two-year low of 3.7526 against the U.S. dollar earlier this month because of concern that the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi could hurt foreign investment in Saudi Arabia, has recovered some of the losses and on Wednesday stood at 3.7511.Saudi crown prince says satisfied with investment conference in RiyadhSaudi stocks continue decline despite support from state fundsSaudi king, crown prince meet Khashoggi family membersSaudi Arabia's King Salman meets Pakistani PM in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia will not penalize banks that boycotted conference
Saudi Arabia's crown prince is expected to address an investment forum on Wednesday that has been overshadowed by the outcry over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a day after Turkey urged Riyadh to search "top to bottom" for those responsible.The kingdom has come under increasing pressure in the crisis that has strained its ties with key Western allies. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Saudi authorities had staged the "worst cover-up ever" in Khashoggi's death as the United States vowed to revoke the visas of some of the Saudi suspects.Dozens of Western politicians, top world bankers and company executives boycotted this year's Future Investment Initiative conference that opened in Riyadh on Tuesday, but the world's largest oil exporter showed it could still do business by signing deals worth $50 billion on the first day.Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler and architect of its reform drive, had briefly appeared at the venue, declaring the event as "great - more people more money", but did not address the conference.UN would investigate Khashoggi if Turkey requestsThe prince, known as MbS, arrived after attending a meeting at which his father and strongest supporter King Salman received members of Khashoggi's family, including his son Salah. State news agency SPA published pictures of the meeting, including one of the crown prince shaking hands with Salah, who seemed ill at ease.MbS is scheduled to speak in a panel in the late afternoon on Wednesday. The prince told Bloomberg earlier this month that Riyadh would announce an "amazing deal" at FII this year, where the mood has been subdued compared to the 2017 inaugural event.Khashoggi, a critic of the crown prince, vanished after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct 2. After Riyadh first denied any involvement in his disappearance, a Saudi official eventually attributed the death to a chokehold.Turkish, Saudi officials examine Saudi consulate carTurkey's president, Tayyip Erdogan, on Tuesday dismissed Saudi efforts to blame Khashoggi's death on rogue operatives, calling the operation a planned, "savage killing", and demanded Riyadh punish those responsible, no matter how highly placed.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States had identified some of the Saudi government and security officials it believed were involved in Khashoggi's murder and would take appropriate actions including revoking U.S. visas.Despite the boycott by big hitters, including in Wall Street, of the investment conference, some senior international bankers were in Riyadh in a sign that global banks were reluctant to walk away from lucrative Saudi deals.Who is al-Madani, Khashoggi’s body double?Saudi finance minister, Mohammed al-Jadaan, met the chief executive of HSBC's global banking and markets' unit and the deputy chairman of Japan's biggest lender MUFG to discuss investment opportunities, the ministry said in Twitter posts.Russia sent a large delegation to FII led by Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev. He said on Tuesday that while Khashoggi's killing needed to be investigated and the culprits punished, the Saudi drive for economic and social reforms could not be ignored. US complicity in Saudi abuses starker than before'EU reaction on Khashoggi depends on Saudi steps'Trump rips Saudi Arabia's Khashoggi plotUS to pull visas of Saudis involved in Khashoggi death
Saudi crown prince to address investment forum amid Khashoggi furore