Flag of Saudi Arabia waves at the official residence of Consul General of Saudi Arabia as the waiting continues on the disappearance of Prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in Istanbul, Turkey on October 18, 2018.
Saudi Arabia is considering putting the blame for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi on an intelligence officer who is close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the New York Times reported Thursday.
Sources told the Times rulers in the kingdom are planning to pin fault on Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri, an adviser to the crown prince, in a move that could deflect fingers pointed at the 33-year-old aspirant.
"The Saudi rulers are expected to say that General Assiri received verbal authorization from Prince Mohammed to capture Mr. Khashoggi for an interrogation in Saudi Arabia, but either misunderstood his instructions or overstepped that authorization and took the dissident’s life," two people familiar with the plan told the Times on condition of anonymity.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday it "certainly looks" like missing Washington Post columnist Jamal 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," Trump told reporters before departing for a campaign rally in Montana.In an interview with The New York Times published after he made the remarks, Trump said, “Unless the miracle of all miracles happens, I would acknowledge that he’s dead."France suspends political visits to Saudi Arabia"That’s based on everything — intelligence coming from every side,” Trump told the newspaper.During his remarks to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump pledged "very severe" consequences if Riyadh is determined to have been responsible for Khashoggi’s disappearance and suspected death but did not elaborate on how Washington might retaliate.The president has previously voiced reluctance to canceling arms sales to Saudi Arabia, saying by doing so the U.S. would "be punishing ourselves."Khashoggi has been missing since Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.Aide to Prince Salman seen walking into Saudi consulateOn the same 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.US lawmakers seek sanctions on Riyadh over KhashoggiThe Turkish team concluded its search for evidence in nine hours and left but returned to the Saudi consulate to continue searching the premises.Vice President Mike Pence said "the world deserves answers.""If what has been alleged occurred, if an innocent person lost their life at the hands of violence, that's to be condemned," Pence said Thursday during remarks to reporters in Colorado. "If a journalist in particular lost their life at the hands of violence that's an affront to a free and independent press around the world. And there will be consequences."Saudi response to Khashoggi case raises questions
Trump says he believes Khashoggi is dead
Bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, has been seen by many in the West as a reformer that has brought massive social change and progressive reform to the kingdom.
However, his image has been tainted in recent weeks because of the global outcry over the missing journalist.
Khashoggi, a Saudi national and columnist for The Washington Post, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Evidence is mounting that the journalist was killed and dismembered by Saudi nationals who flew into Istanbul that same day.
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 building in Istanbul.
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.US lawmakers seek sanctions on Riyadh over KhashoggiAs 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.Saudi response to Khashoggi case raises questionsKhashoggi caseKhashoggi 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.Pompeo heard recording of Khashoggi ‘murder': Report
France suspends political visits to Saudi Arabia
Meanwhile, a wave of bipartisan U.S. lawmakers have taken a stand against Saudi Arabia, demanding answers on Khashoggi's disappearance.
Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that would halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia unless Secretary of State Mike Pompeo certifies the kingdom did not order the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. The bill currently has 8 cosponsors from both political parties.
After returning from a trip to Saudi Arabia and Turkey, however, Pompeo said he advised U.S. President Donald Trump to give Saudi officials "a few more days" to continue the investigation.
Photos published Thursday show a close companion and aide to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul just hours before journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared inside.The Turkish newspaper Sabah published the time-stamped photographs, taken from security surveillance footage, which show Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb outside the Saudi consulate at 9:55 a.m. local time, outside the Saudi consul’s residence at 4:45 p.m., at a hotel at 5:15 p.m. and finally at the airport at 5:58 p.m.The photos are the most profound pieces of evidence to appear so far linking the alleged killing of Khashoggi to the highest authority of the Saudi royal family.France suspends political visits to Saudi ArabiaMutreb was assigned as a diplomat at the Saudi embassy in London in 2007 and has been frequently seen in photographs alongside Prince Salman in the U.S., Spain and France.Khashoggi, a Saudi national and columnist for The Washington Post, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Evidence is mounting that the journalist was killed and dismembered by Saudi nationals who flew into Istanbul the same day.According to The New York Times, Mutreb was among 15 Saudis, including several officials, who arrived in Istanbul and visited the building while Khashoggi was still inside.US lawmakers seek sanctions on Riyadh over KhashoggiSaudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation of Khashoggi’s fate, while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S. and the U.K. -- have expressed their desire that the matter should be elucidated as soon as possible.The New York Times reported Thursday that there is a plan by the Saudi government to pin the killing of Khashoggi on Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri, an adviser to Prince Salman.Saudi response to Khashoggi case raises questionsPompeo heard recording of Khashoggi ‘murder': Report
Aide to Prince Salman seen walking into Saudi consulate
Trump, along with senior officials in the administration, have defended bin Salman, with Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and Middle East advisor, telling the president to stand behind the crown prince, the newspaper reported.
The Times said that Saudi had already briefed the U.S. on their plan, and people "close to the White House have already been briefed and given General Assiri’s name."
Assiri was previously the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and had been promoted to a high ranking adviser last year.
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
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
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