Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said he hopes that the residence of Saudi Arabia's consul general will be searched on Wednesday.
"The search of the Saudi consul general residence did not happen on Tuesday due to claims of the family's presence, but the team hopes to enter today," Çavuşoğlu said.
Following permission for a search of the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkish and Saudi officials are to search the residence of the Saudi consul concerning the case of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Spain on Wednesday expressed its "concern" about the case of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post newspaper, has long been feared killed at the Istanbul Consulate after he entered on Oct. 2 and was never seen exiting.In a written statement, the Spanish Embassy in Ankara said the country shares the international concerns over the disappearance of the Saudi journalist."The Spanish government is hoping that the investigation, with the cooperation of the Turkish and Saudi authorities, will be concluded with urgency," it said.Five Khashoggi suspects linked to crown prince: NY TimesThe statement also said that Spain, as its core values, stands for freedom of press and expression as well as the need for the protection of journalistsOn 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.Trump gives Saudi Arabia benefit of doubt in journalist's disappearancePresident Erdoğan, US’ Pompeo meet in Ankara'Khashoggi case not only global matter, also a test for Turkish judiciary'Recordings reveal Khashoggi tortured then dismembered while still alive
Spain 'concerned' on case of missing Saudi journalist
Amid the ongoing investigation of Khashoggi however, Saudi Arabia's Consul General in Istanbul Mohammad al-Otaibi left Turkey for Riyadh on Tuesday.
Khashoggi has long been feared killed at the consulate 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.
Some of the suspects identified by Turkey in the disappearance of a Saudi journalist in Istanbul had ties to Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, according to a New York Times report on the case."The New York Times has confirmed independently that at least nine of 15 suspects identified by Turkish authorities worked for the Saudi security services, military or other government ministries," the newspaper reported late Tuesday, referring to the case of Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared after entering the the Saudi Consulate on Oct. 2.The Times has frequently cited "Turkish officials" supposedly giving details of the case, but without giving any names.Trump gives Saudi Arabia benefit of doubt in journalist's disappearanceIt stated that one of the suspects was a “frequent companion” of Salman who was alongside the crown prince during visits to Paris, Madrid, Houston, Boston, and the UN, publishing photos showing the suspect in Salman’s entourage.Three other suspects were part of Salman’s security detail, said the story.A fifth suspect was said to be a forensic science expert holding a senior position in the Saudi Interior Ministry and country's medical institutes.President Erdoğan, US’ Pompeo meet in AnkaraUnclear fateKhashoggi is feared killed after he entered the consulate and was never seen exiting.On that same day, 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the building while Khashoggi was still inside, Turkish police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.Saudi 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 pressed for the matter to be cleared up as soon as possible.'Khashoggi case not only global matter, also a test for Turkish judiciary'"Turkish officials have said they possess evidence that the 15 Saudi agents flew into Istanbul on Oct. 2, assassinated Mr. Khashoggi, dismembered his body with a bone saw they had brought for the purpose, and flew out the same day,” reported the Times, without giving the names of the officials reportedly cited.“Records show that two private jets chartered by a Saudi company with close ties to the Saudi crown prince and Interior Ministry arrived and left Istanbul on the day of Mr. Khashoggi’s disappearance," the story added.Five reported suspectsFive suspects linked to Khashoggi’s disappearance were named in the Times story.Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, one of the suspects, was a diplomat in the Saudi Embassy in London and has travelled frequently with the crown prince, perhaps as a bodyguard, said the Times.Recordings reveal Khashoggi tortured then dismembered while still aliveAbdulaziz Mohammed al-Hawsawi, said to work on Salman’s security team and for the Saudi royal family, was identified as a second suspect.A third suspect was said to be Thaar Ghaleb al-Harbi, who was promoted last year to lieutenant in the Saudi royal guard for his bravery in the defense of Mohammed’s palace in Jeddah.A fourth suspect, Muhammed Saad Alzahrani, was another member of the royal guard.Rounding out the suspects was Salah al-Tubaigy, a forensic doctor and reported autopsy expert.Europe may need to change Saudi policies over Khashoggi case: Merkel ally
Five Khashoggi suspects linked to crown prince: NY Times
Yeni Şafak daily has obtained information indicating that there are numerous voice recordings from inside the Saudi consulate located in Turkey’s Istanbul where missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered on Oct. 2 and never reemerged.In one of the recordings, Saudi Arabia's Consul General Mohammad al-Otaibi, who left Turkey for Riyadh on Tuesday, can be heard saying: “If you want to live, be quiet!”First torture, then executionSources indicate that Khashoggi was tortured before he was killed. His fingers were allegedly cut off during the interrogation process before he was decapitated.The consul general can be heard saying: “Do this outside. You’re going to get me in trouble.”US Secretary of State Pompeo lands in AnkaraKhashoggi has long been feared killed after he entered the Saudi Consulate building in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and was never seen exiting.He moved to Washington last year fearing retribution for his criticism of Prince Mohammed, who has cracked down on dissent with arrests.On same day Khashoggi went missing, 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, including a forensic expert, have since left Turkey.Europe may need to change Saudi policies over Khashoggi case: Merkel allyKhashoggi killing took seven minutes“It took seven minutes for Jamal Khashoggi to die, a Turkish source who has listened in full to an audio recording of the Saudi journalist's last moments,” told the Middle East Eye.The source said Khashoggi was “dragged from the Consul General’s office at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and onto the table of his study next door. The screaming stopped when Khashoggi was injected with an as yet unknown substance. Head of forensic evidence in the Saudi general security department Salah Muhammad al-Tubaigy began to cut Khashoggi’s body up on a table in the study while he was still alive. As he started to dismember the body, Tubaigy put on earphones and listened to music. He advised other members of the squad to do the same.”'Turkey to solve Saudi journalist case'Khashoggi disappearance tops global agendaSince Khashoggi’s disappearance, many global media outlets have claimed that recordings of his death inside the consulate exist.Turkish officials have told Reuters that authorities have an audio recording indicating that Khashoggi was killed in the consulate, and have shared evidence with countries including Saudi Arabia and the United States. Saudi Arabia has denied any role in Khashoggi's disappearance.Police found “certain evidence” of Khashoggi’s slaying at the consulate, a high-level Turkish official told the Associated Press on Tuesday.Saudi owes Khashoggi family apology: US newspaper CEOTrump says Saudi prince denies knowledge of Khashoggi case
Recordings reveal Khashoggi tortured then dismembered while still alive
Turkey, U.S. are “on the same page on lifting sanctions”
Speaking from the airport in Ankara, Çavuşoğlu said talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were "beneficial and fruitful." Pompeo was on a brief visit to Turkey after having met with the Saudi king, crown prince and foreign minister in Riyadh on Tuesday.
Çavuşoğlu said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Pompeo Turkey could easily clear northern Syria's Manbij of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) if Washington failed to do so.
The YPG is the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.
Russia on Tuesday said the memorandum of understanding signed by Moscow and Ankara to establish a demilitarized zone in Syria’s Idlib is being implemented.Russian military personnel are satisfied with the work of their Turkish colleagues in Idlib, Dmitry Peskov, the presidential spokesman, told journalists in Moscow.On Sept. 17, Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib.Ankara and Moscow also signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the “stabilization” of Idlib's de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.Under the deal, opposition groups in Idlib will remain in areas in which they are already present, while Russia and Turkey will conduct joint patrols in the area with a view to preventing renewed fighting."The memorandum is being implemented and the militaries are satisfied with how the Turkish side works in this regard," Peskov said.Turkey's diplomatic success protects 4M people in IdlibWorld congratulated Turkey for Idlib deal: ErdoğanErdoğan: Turkey to remain in Idlib, help people in need
MoU between Turkey, Russia on Idlib ‘being implemented’
The foreign minister added that the U.S. “accepts there is a delay in implementing the Manbij roadmap.”
The Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the city to stabilize the region, which is in the northeast of Aleppo province in northern Syria.
Çavuşoğlu said Turkey and the U.S. “are on same page regarding the lifting of sanctions and other related matters.”
The U.S. seeks to maintain its presence in Syria and continues to arm Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists and its allies under the pretext of the fight the Daesh terror organization, which maintains just a small presence in two villages of Deir ez-Zor.The U.S has supplied the PYD terror organization and its armed wing, the YPG, with thousands of truckloads of weapons to allegedly use in the fight against Daesh, despite Ankara’s warnings that the fact they are the Syrian offshoots of the PKK terror organization.Daesh terrorists have control over two villages across Syria – Hajir and Ishafa- where only 1,500 are stationed in a 150 square-kilometer area.Former Deir ez-Zor Meyadin Council member, Kerem Fireyah, divulged the details about the main aim of the U.S in the region and told Yeni Şafak daily in an exclusive interview that “If they decided to annihilate the Daesh presence, they could do it within two hours.”Russian delegation met with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince to discuss Syrian crisisDaesh threat in the region can be purged within two hoursStressing the U.S’s military capacity and power to put an end to the Daesh threat Fireyah said, “The Deash terror organization only has control over in the villages of Hajir and Ishafa nationwide. There are about 1,500 Daesh terrorists in these two regions and this situation has not changed for 2 years. There was no operation against Daesh there. The U.S., due to its political strategy, ignored the presence of terror elements there. If they decide to annihilate the Daesh presence, they could do it within two hours,” Fireyah said.“The only justification of the U.S to legitimize its presence in the country is Daesh and Washington does not want to lose this trump card. The Assad regime has control over al-Bukemal, Jela, Salihiyye and Meyadin. On the other hand, Suvar, Ziban, Shiheyl, Abu Hamam and Baguz have the U.S-PKK terror elements. There is Daesh in the middle region,” he added.“The U.S has not allowed regime intervention for 2 years, nor has it finished off the presence of Daesh that consists of only two villages.”Daesh and PKK two peas in a pod“Daesh have been procuring all their needs from PYD-occupied areas. With the bombardments against Daesh, civilians are being hit. These attacks are being conducted for civilians to flee the area,” he concluded.PKK extorts money from Manbij locals in fear of looming Turkish opTurkish forces 'neutralize' 6 PKK terrorists in N.Iraq
US continues to arm PKK terrorists in Syria under the pretext of fighting Daesh