Yemen praises Saudi decisions on journalist's death

Amnesty urges UN investigation, independent autopsy in Khashoggi death

Amnesty International said on Saturday that Saudi Arabia's explanation of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul appeared to be a whitewash of "an appalling assassination"."The investigation findings by the Saudi authorities claiming that Khashoggi died as a result of a 'fist-fight' inside the consulate are not trustworthy and marks an abysmal new low to Saudi Arabia's human rights record," Samah Hadid, the human rights group's Middle East director, said in a statement.It called on Saudi authorities to produce Khashoggi's body so that independent forensic experts could perform an autopsy. It also said the United Nations should investigate his death.As Khashoggi crisis grows, Saudi king asserts authority, checks son's powerUK academic calls for Saudi sanctions in Khashoggi caseIndonesian journalists urge clarity on Khashoggi case"An independent investigation will be the only guarantee against what increasingly appears as a Saudi whitewash surrounding the circumstances of Khashoggi's murder or any attempts by other governments to sweep the issue under the carpet to preserve lucrative arms deals and other business ties with Riyadh," Hadid said.Saudi Arabia's claim that Khashoggi had died in a fight -- rather than was deliberately killed - was Riyadh's first acknowledgement of his death after two weeks of denials that it was involved in his disappearance."This appalling assassination within the grounds of the Consulate amounts to an extrajudicial execution," Amnesty said.Saudi consulate employees in Istanbul give testimony at prosecutor's officeTurkish probe locates exact site of Khashoggi killing: Al JazeeraLost Saudi journo had urged Arab youth to fight tyranny

Bahrain praises Saudi king's decisions: Al Arabiya TV

Bahrain, in an apparent reference to the case of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, on Saturday praised decisions made by the Saudi king to establish justice, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV reported."Saudi Arabia will remain a state of justice, values and principles," an official statement quote by the channel said. .Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that Khashoggi, a prominent journalist and critic of Saudi rulers, died in a fight inside its Istanbul consulate - after two weeks of denials that it had anything to do with his disappearance.Saudi consulate employees in Istanbul give testimony at prosecutor's officeTurkish probe locates exact site of Khashoggi killing: Al JazeeraLost Saudi journo had urged Arab youth to fight tyrannyAs Khashoggi crisis grows, Saudi king asserts authority, checks son's power

Investigators likely to discover what happened to Khashoggi body 'before long'

Turkish investigators are likely to find out what happened to the body of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi "before long", a senior Turkish official said on Saturday.The official, who declined to be identified, also told Reuters that Khashoggi's DNA samples were being obtained from Turkey.Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that Khashoggi had died in a fight inside its Istanbul consulate - Riyadh's first acknowledgement of his death after two weeks of denials that it was involved in his disappearance.Turkish probe locates exact site of Khashoggi killing: Al Jazeera"We'll find out what happened to the body before long," the senior official said. "The DNA is being procured from within Turkey. It seems there will be no need to ask Saudi Arabia at the moment."Khashoggi's killers may have dumped his remains in Belgrad Forest adjacent to Istanbul, and at a rural location near the city of Yalova, a 90-kme (55 mile) drive south of Istanbul, officials told Reuters on Thursday.Investigators were still focused on the Yalova and Belgrad Forest areas, and were looking at CCTV footage from near Belgrad Forest, the senior official said.Investigators were also still examining traffic records of every car that went in and out of the Saudi Consulate on Oct.2, the day Khashoggi entered the consulate, the senior official said. As Khashoggi crisis grows, Saudi king asserts authority, checks son's powerUK academic calls for Saudi sanctions in Khashoggi caseIndonesian journalists urge clarity on Khashoggi case

Turkey vows to reveal details of Khashoggi's killing

Turkey will get to the bottom of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Kashoggi, ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesman Omer Çelik said Saturday."Turkey will uncover whatever happened. No one should have doubts about that," Celik told reporters in Istanbul.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is determined to solve the case by all means, Çelik added.The AK Party official said Turkey will not blame anyone prior to completion of investigation, but nothing should be hidden.He added that many people in the world are following the issue with great interest and are praising the rigorous work of Turkish authorities.Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.On the 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.A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Saudi prince behind Khashoggi murder: Ex-MI6 chiefUS 'saddened' over confirmed death of Saudi journalistUN chief ‘deeply troubled’ by Khashoggi’s deathSaudi Arabia sacks top officials over Khashoggi deathSaudi Arabia says Khashoggi died at Istanbul consulateTrump keen, Congress unswayed by Khashoggi explanation

Egypt commends 'decisive' and 'brave' actions by Saudi King over Khashoggi case

Egypt on Saturday praised what it called the "decisive" and "brave" actions taken by Saudi King Salman in the investigation into the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi."Egypt sees that the brave and decisive decisions and actions taken by the Saudi King over this matter align with his majesty's approach that respects the principles of law and applications of effective justice," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.It also offered its condolences to Khashoggi's family and said it was confident the investigation would reveal the truth.'Khashoggi case not only global matter, also a test for Turkish judiciary'

Britain considering 'next steps' after Saudi Arabia admits journalist's death

Britain said on Saturday it was considering the "next steps" after Saudi Arabia acknowledged for the first time that the missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at its consulate in Turkey."We send our condolences to Jamal Khashoggi's family after this confirmation of his death. We are considering the Saudi report and our next steps," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "As the Foreign Secretary has said, this was a terrible act and those responsible must be held to account."Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that he died after a fight broke out between Khashoggi and people who met him in the consulate after two weeks of denials that it had anything to do with his disappearance.Saudi consulate employees in Istanbul give testimony at prosecutor's officeUK academic calls for Saudi sanctions in Khashoggi case

UAE voices support for Saudi king statement on journalist's death

The United Arab Emirates on Saturday backed Saudi Arabia's statement about the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the official news agency WAM said.The Gulf Arab state "commends directives and decisions of Saudi King Salman on the issue of Kashoggi," WAM said on Twitter.Saudi Arabia has said that Khashoggi, a prominent journalist, died in a fight inside its Istanbul consulate - after two weeks of denials that it had anything to do with his disappearance - and dismissed five officials over the incident.Saudi senior scholars praise king's decisions on Khashoggi deathTrump a reluctant critic of Saudi Arabia despite pressure to actSaudi Arabia sacks top officials over Khashoggi deathSaudi Arabia says Khashoggi died at Istanbul consulate

A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.