Heiko Maas
German foreign minister has put on hold his plans to visit Saudi Arabia amid an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Heiko Maas urged Saudi Arabia to “fully cooperate” in the investigation and stressed that those bearing responsibility must be held to account.
“Regarding my travel plans […] we were actually considering a visit as part of our dialogue with Saudi Arabia. Now we would wait and see,” he said.
“The Saudi authorities have said they would make a statement. We would then decide whether a visit to Saudi Arabia would make sense at this point in time,” he added.
Saudi Arabia's Consul General in Istanbul, where prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared, has been relieved of his post and will be investigated, according to an official statement carried by Sabq newspaper on Wednesday.The Saudi online newspaper did not give details of those violations which the consul Mohammad al-Otaibi is being investigated for. Saudi investigation team arrives at consul's Istanbul residence'Turkey serious amid US cleanup of journalist case'Saudi Arabia pays Washington $100M as Pompeo lands in RiyadhPompeo tells Erdoğan US willing to aid Khashoggi probe
Saudi consul in Istanbul relieved of post, to be investigated
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.
On Monday, Turkish and Saudi officials searched the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul after the start of a joint probe into the missing journalist.
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.
The Washington Post on Wednesday accused the Trump administration of trying to “clean up the Saudis’ mess” while praising Turkey's resolve to clear up the case of Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist who went missing at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.In an editorial, “Why is the Trump administration cleaning up Saudi Arabia’s mess?” the paper began by criticizing the visit by Mike Pompeo, U.S. secretary of state, to see Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Riyadh.“Pompeo, who smiled broadly as he greeted Prince Salman, appeared less intent on determining the truth than in helping the de facto Saudi ruler escape from the crisis he triggered,” said the unsigned editorial.Saudi Arabia pays Washington $100M as Pompeo lands in Riyadh“The Saudis are said to be preparing a cover story that will attribute Mr. Khashoggi’s murder to the excesses of a team that was dispatched to interrogate him. That would deflect blame from the crown prince, who in fact is believed to have ordered and overseen the operation.” It added that in a phone call with Salman, U.S. “President Trump signaled that he is more than ready to assist in that dodge.”President Erdoğan looks ‘serious’“Back in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appeared more serious about trying to discover the truth,” continued the editorial.Pompeo tells Erdoğan US willing to aid Khashoggi probe“But [Turkey's] probe faced considerable obstacles: Erdoğan told reporters that the investigators who were finally allowed into the consulate encountered freshly painted walls. Turkish sources told the Associated Press (AP) they have found more evidence backing up their claim that Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered shortly after entering the compound.”The editorial argued that what “should not be acceptable is a diplomatic cleanup operation conducted by the Trump administration for” Saudi Arabia.Khashoggi is feared killed after he entered the Saudi Consulate building in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and was never seen exiting.On the same day, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was still inside, Turkish police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.'Prince Salman can't quash murder probe': Wasington Post columnTurkey hopes to enter Saudi consul’s residence on Wednesday: FM
'Turkey serious amid US cleanup of journalist case'
Saudi Arabia deposited $100 million into American accounts on Tuesday, the same day U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo touched down in Riyadh to discuss the disappearance of missing journalist Jamal Khashogi with the Saudi king, crown prince and foreign minister.The funds were allegedly part of financing pledged in August by Riyadh to the Trump administration for efforts to stabilize Syrian territories liberated from Daesh. “It was unclear when it would show up, if at all, until it suddenly landed in American accounts on Tuesday,” The New York Times reported.“The timing of this is no coincidence,” an American official involved in Syria policy told The New York Times.Pompeo tells Erdoğan US willing to aid Khashoggi probeThe alignment of the transfer and Pompeo’s arrival in Riyadh has raised questions. The top diplomat was in Saudi Arabia to discuss Khashoggi’s disappearance, a matter that has heightened tensions between Riyadh and many of its allies.Claims have emerged that Riyadh is preparing a report acknowledging Khashoggi was killed as the result of an interrogation that went wrong. In an earlier article, the New York Times, citing a person familiar with Saudi plans, reported that the Saudi government would blame an intelligence official for a bungled operation.Blaming Khashoggi's case on mistakes by lower-level personnel would allow the Saudi government to say it never sanctioned his disappearance, and could help to reduce international outrage over the affair, a banker in the Gulf said.'Prince Salman can't quash murder probe': Wasington Post columnU.S. backing of such a conclusion would help shield Saudi Arabia from the fallout of such an acknowledgement.“The specific transfer of funds has been long in process and has nothing to do with other events or the secretary’s visit,” Brett McGurk, the United States envoy to the coalition fighting Daesh said, dismissing claims that the visit is connected to the money transfer.Combined with another $50 million from the UAE, the Saudi funding will enable U.S. presence in Syria to continue without dipping into Washington’s own pocket.“The funds will be used by USAID and the State Department for a variety of programs, including infrastructure repairs and provision of health, education and sanitation services,” The New York Times reported.UAE Crown Prince Zayed’s army of assassinsTurkey hopes to enter Saudi consul’s residence on Wednesday: FMUS senator blasts Trump over Khashoggi caseFive Khashoggi suspects linked to crown prince: NY Times
Saudi Arabia pays Washington $100M as Pompeo lands in Riyadh
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Wednesday, again offered U.S. assistance in Turkey's investigation into the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the U.S. State Department said."The Secretary also expressed the United States' concern over Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance," the department said in a statement following their meeting. Video: President Erdoğan, US’ Pompeo meet in Ankara'Prince Salman can't quash murder probe': Wasington Post columnUAE Crown Prince Zayed’s army of assassinsChinese daily slams approach of US over Khashoggi caseTurkey hopes to enter Saudi consul’s residence on Wednesday: FMUS senator blasts Trump over Khashoggi case
Pompeo tells Erdoğan US willing to aid Khashoggi probe