Sen. Lindsey O. Graham
Saudi Arabia will pay a "heavy price" if allegations that the kingdom killed a prominent journalist prove true, said a senior Republican senator on Monday.
Jamal Khashoggi, journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, has been missing since he entered the consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
On his Twitter account, Lindsey Graham said Riyadh must provide "honest answers," adding that his position is shared by fellow Senators Bob Corker, a Republican, and Ben Cardin, a Democrat.
"We agree if there was any truth to the allegations of wrongdoing by the Saudi government it would be devastating to the US-Saudi relationship and there will be a heavy price to be paid — economically and otherwise," Graham tweeted.
British government on Monday said the allegations on the disappearance of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi are "extremely serious"."These are extremely serious allegations," said a British Foreign Office representative in a statement."We are aware of the latest reports and are working urgently to establish the facts, including with the government of Saudi Arabia," the representative said.Jamal Khashoggi, journalist and regular columnist for the Washington Post, has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.Video: Activists demonstrate in support of missing Saudi journalistTurkish police investigating the case had said in a statement Saturday that 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and entered the consulate while Khashoggi was inside.The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul initiated an investigation on the day of the incident while the consulate also said on Twitter that it was working in coordination with Turkish authorities.Turkey on Monday conveyed its expectation of "full cooperation" from Saudi Arabia in search of the missing Saudi journalist.Erdoğan says still has positive expectations on Saudi journalist's conditionTurkey says authorities have concrete information on missing Saudi journalistMissing Saudi journalist sparks backlash from US
UK: Allegations on Khashoggi's disappearance 'serious'
On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged the Saudi Consulate to prove whether or not Khashoggi exited the building after entering, saying the consulate officials "can't get away with [simply] saying 'he left the building'."
Turkish police investigating the case said in a statement Saturday that 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and entered the consulate while Khashoggi was inside.
"Our country’s values should be and must be a cornerstone of our foreign policy with foes and allies alike," said Graham.
A senior lawmaker of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) said on Monday that Riyadh's statements on the case of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi were "inadequate"."We do not hear that Saudi Arabia made an adequate explanation on this issue," Öztürk Yılmaz told a news conference in the capital Ankara.Yılmaz said, "Our officials [in the Turkish government] should investigate the issue and share it with the public."He said if allegations of the Saudi journalist's murder are true, it is a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and those who violate it should leave Turkey.Video: Activists demonstrate in support of missing Saudi journalistJamal Khashoggi, journalist and regular columnist for the Washington Post, has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.Turkish police investigating the case had said in a statement Saturday that 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and entered the consulate while Khashoggi was inside.The Turkish police in Istanbul has been keeping an eye on the comings and goings at the Saudi consulate since the time -- according to the journalist's fiancee -- Khashoggi entered the building.The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul initiated an investigation on the day of the incident while the consulate also said on Twitter that it was working in coordination with Turkish authorities.Erdoğan says still has positive expectations on Saudi journalist's condition‘Jamal Khashoggi was murdered’Turkey says authorities have concrete information on missing Saudi journalist
Turkey's CHP demands explanation on Saudi journalist
Turkey on Monday conveyed its expectation of "full cooperation" from Saudi Arabia in search of the missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.According to a diplomatic source, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Ankara Waleed A. M. Elkhereiji was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Sunday."Deputy foreign minister Sedat Onal invited Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the Ministry yesterday. Our expectation of full cooperation during the investigation process [on missing journalist] was conveyed to him," said a diplomatic source.Jamal Khashoggi, journalist and regular columnist for the Washington Post, has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.Erdoğan says still has positive expectations on Saudi journalist's conditionTurkish police investigating the case had said in a statement Saturday that 15 Saudis, including several officials, had arrived in Istanbul on two planes and had entered the consulate while Khashoggi was inside.The Turkish police in Istanbul has been keeping an eye on the comings and goings at the Saudi consulate since the time -- according to the journalist's fiancee – Khashoggi entered the building.The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul initiated an investigation on the day of the incident while the consulate also said on Twitter that it was working in coordination with Turkish authorities.Video: Activists demonstrate in support of missing Saudi journalist‘Jamal Khashoggi was murdered’Turkey says authorities have concrete information on missing Saudi journalist
Ankara expects Riyadh’s cooperation during probe into missing Saudi journalist