French President Emmanuel Macron
France has suspended some political visits to Saudi Arabia over the case of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the country’s president said Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, Emmanuel Macron said clarification on Khashoggi’s disappearance is needed, noting the information received so far is "extremely serious and worrying".
He said the decision was made in coordination with other European countries, including the UK, Germany and the Netherlands.
More than 40 lawmakers on Thursday urged U.S. President Donald Trump to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on those responsible for a missing Saudi journalist's murder."If your immediate investigation and determination are consistent with ongoing media reports about this outrageous action, we urge strong, comprehensive sanctions," members of the House of Representatives said in a letter, which also called for an end to U.S. support for Saudi Arabian military action in Yemen."Today, more than 40 lawmakers joined me in urging President Trump to enforce strong sanctions on those responsible for the murder dismemberment of American resident, @washingtonpost journalist Jamal Khashoggi," Congressman Lloyd Doggett said in a post on his Twitter account.Saudi Scholars Association calls for Crown Prince Salman to be dethronedThe lawmakers also voiced support for their colleagues in the Senate, who have already triggered an investigation into Khashoggi's disappearance under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.Khashoggi has been missing since Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.On the same 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.Khashoggi probe 'complies with international law'On Wednesday, crime scene investigation units arrived at the official residence of Saudi Consul General Mohammad al-Otaibi around 4.40 p.m. local time (1340GMT). Al-Otaibi had left Turkey for Riyadh on Tuesday.Officials from a joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case early Thursday after searching the residence as well as the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.Trump said it "certainly looks" like Khashoggi is dead, amid speculation he was killed by Saudi Arabia."We're waiting for some investigations, and waiting for the results, and we'll have them very soon. And I think we'll be making a statement, a very strong statement, but we're waiting for the results of about three different investigations," he told reporters before departing for a campaign rally in Montana.Istanbul forest being searched for Khashoggi bodyUS-Saudi relations in light of Khashoggi case
US lawmakers seek sanctions on Riyadh over Khashoggi
As part of the decision, Macron said a planned trip by Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, to attend an economic conference has been cancelled.
Responding to a question on relations with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Macron said bilateral relations between the two counties will continue.
Accused of being responsible for the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi officials have added to suspicions by making contradictory assertions on the case.Khashoggi has long been feared killed after he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and was never seen leaving.On the same day, 15 Saudi nationals, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals left Turkey within 25 hours of arriving. Riyadh’s claim that they were merely “tourists” has increasingly come under scrutiny since information concerning their identities began to emerge. Among the group were senior diplomats and soldiers known to be close to Saudi Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman as well as one of the country’s high-ranking autopsy and forensic specialists.Citing U.S. intelligence intercepts, the Washington Post reported the crown prince had sought to lure Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia and detain him.However, bin Salman said his government was "very keen to know what happened" to Khashoggi and that the latter had left the consulate "after a few minutes or one hour."Despite this, Saudi officials have so far failed to come up with credible proof that Khashoggi had left the building safe and sound, blaming faulty security cameras, whereas CCTV footage had been released showing him entering the consulate.Saudi Scholars Association calls for Crown Prince Salman to be dethronedAmid a probe into the journalist’s disappearance, crime scene investigation units arrived at Saudi Consul General Muhammad al-Otaibi’s official residence Wednesday.Al-Otaibi had left Turkey without making any statements just before his residence was searched by forensic teams.Saudi officials have been reluctant in conducting an official investigation into the case, only allowing an inspection of the consulate two weeks after Khashoggi’s disappearance despite multiple statements from Riyadh that the government had “nothing to hide”.Khashoggi probe 'complies with international law'Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin announced on Oct. 11 that Riyadh had proposed establishing a joint Turkish-Saudi team to shed light on the issue.While Saudi officials “commended” Turkey’s positive response, little progress was achieved regarding the team due to Riyadh’s foot-dragging, with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stating that the Turkish side had yet to see any cooperation.Although Saudi figures including the crown prince and his brother, Khalid bin Salman, had profusely rejected the possibility of Khashoggi’s murder taking place, news reports have emerged claiming Saudi Arabia was preparing to admit it killed Khashoggi in an interrogation gone wrong.Istanbul forest being searched for Khashoggi bodyUS-Saudi relations in light of Khashoggi case
Saudi response to Khashoggi case raises questions
Khashoggi case
Khashoggi has been missing since Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
On the day of Khashoggi's disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.
On Wednesday, crime scene investigation units arrived at the official residence of Saudi Consul General Mohammad al-Otaibi around 4.40 p.m. local time (1340GMT). Al-Otaibi had left Turkey for Riyadh on Tuesday.
Officials from a joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case early Thursday after searching the residence as well as the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo listened to an alleged audio recording of the "murder" of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, ABC News reported Thursday, citing a senior Turkish official.Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post newspaper, has long been feared killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul after he entered on Oct. 2 and was never seen exiting.According to ABC News, the Turkish official said Pompeo listened to the recording Wednesday during a meeting in Ankara, adding he was also given a transcript of the recording.Saudi Scholars Association calls for Crown Prince Salman to be dethronedABC News also reported that "Turkish officials believe that Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate following a struggle that lasted eight minutes and they believe he died of strangulation".The State Department denied the report."Secretary Pompeo has neither heard a tape nor has he seen a transcript related to Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.Prior to his visit to Ankara, Pompeo traveled to Saudi Arabia, where he held talks with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Khashoggi’s disappearance.Khashoggi probe 'complies with international law'Addressing reporters at the White House after his return to the U.S., Pompeo said he advised President Donald Trump to give Saudi Arabia "a few more days" to complete their investigation into the matter.On the same 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.Istanbul forest being searched for Khashoggi bodyOn Wednesday, crime scene investigation units arrived at the official residence of Saudi Consul General Mohammad al-Otaibi around 4.40 p.m. local time (1340GMT). Al-Otaibi had left Turkey for Riyadh on Tuesday.Officials from a joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case early Thursday after searching the residence as well as the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.US-Saudi relations in light of Khashoggi case
Pompeo heard recording of Khashoggi ‘murder': Report