Yemen's President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour
Yemen’s President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi on Tuesday left Saudi Arabia for the United States for an unscheduled visit, according to a Yemeni presidential source.
“Hadi left his residence in Riyadh at dawn,” the source said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media.
The reason for the visit remains unclear.
The source suggested that Hadi may conduct medical checks in the U.S. city of Cleveland during the visit.
Tuesday’s surprise visit came a few days after the Yemeni president returned from the U.S., where he conducted medical checks and attended the meetings of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Hadi has been living in Riyadh since he fled Yemen in 2015 after Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa a year earlier.
In 2015, Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-Arab allies launched a massive air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains in Yemen.
The violence has devastated Yemen’s public infrastructure, including water and sanitation systems, prompting the UN to describe the situation there as one of “the worst humanitarian disasters of modern times”.
Britain said on Tuesday questions remained over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and only Saudi Arabia could provide answers to them."President Erdoğan's statement this morning underscores the fact there remain questions which only the Saudis have the answers to," Prime Minster Theresa May's spokesman said when asked about an earlier statement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the killing. Erdoğan: Evidence shows Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murdered
Britain says questions remain over Khashoggi killing, only Saudis have answers
Saudi intelligence officer and former diplomat Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, who allegedly played a "pivotal role" in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, is thought to have smuggled the journalist’s remains out of the country in his bag as diplomatic passport-holders are not obligated to put their carry-ons through an X-ray machine and are exempt from security checks.Mutreb arrived from Riyadh to Istanbul on Oct. 2 on a private jet, and his bags were not checked when he left the country due to his diplomatic immunity. He passed through passport control at 03:38 a.m. and stayed at the Movenpick Hotel during his visit before leaving the country at 05.49 p.m.47-year-old Mutreb was a diplomat in the Saudi embassy in London and has travelled frequently with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.Saudi Arabia ‘in crisis’ over Khashoggi: MinisterKhashoggi vanished after entering the consulate on Oct. 2 to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage. He was a U.S. resident who wrote columns for the Washington Post and critical of the Saudi government, calling for reforms.After denying any involvement in the disappearance of Khashoggi, 59, for two weeks, Saudi Arabia on Saturday morning said he had died in a fistfight at the consulate. An hour later, another Saudi official attributed the death to a chokehold, which a senior official reiterated.Yeni Şafak daily on Monday reported that Mutreb also called Badr Al Asaker, the director of the private office of the crown prince, on his cell four times after the “fistfight” that resulted in the journalist’s death.Turkish police are also searching a forest on the outskirts of Istanbul and a city near the Sea of Marmara for Khashoggi’s remains.Erdoğan: Evidence shows Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murdered
Did Saudi intel officer Mutreb smuggle Khashoggi’s dismembered body abroad?
A major investment conference opened in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday amid international boycott over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Organized by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the three-day event aims to draw investments with a view to diversifying the kingdom’s oil-based economy.Several major banks, corporations and businessmen have boycotted the conference, which is held under the shadow of an international outcry over Khashoggi’s murder at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.Among boycotters of the conference are World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, billionaire philanthropist and Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong and British billionaire Richard Branson.Saudi Arabia ‘in crisis’ over Khashoggi: MinisterThe New York Times, CNN, and CNBC have also announced they would not sponsor the event, and several prominent journalists have said they would not attend.Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia last week claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.Saudi King Salman sacked the deputy of the intelligence service and a top aide and ordered the arrest of 18 suspects over the case.Erdoğan: Evidence shows Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murderedOn 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.Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister admitted on Sunday that Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi Consulate but argued that the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was “not aware" of it. Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir claimed that it was a “rogue operation” by individuals who exceeded their responsibilities and later tried to cover things up.SoftBank CEO Son not to speak at Saudi conference, could still attend: WSJWebsite of Saudi investment conference hacked
Saudi investment conference opens amid international boycott
Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih on Tuesday admitted that Saudi Arabia was “in crisis” over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.“Saudi Arabia is going through a crisis,” al-Falih said in statements on the sidelines of a major investment conference in the capital Riyadh.He described Khashoggi’s killing as “abhorrent and cannot be justified”.Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.How the man behind Khashoggi murder ran the killing via SkypeAfter days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia last week claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.Saudi King Salman sacked the deputy of the intelligence service and a top aide and ordered the arrest of 18 suspects over the case.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.Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister admitted on Sunday that Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi Consulate but argued that the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was “not aware" of it.Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir claimed that it was a “rogue operation” by individuals who exceeded their responsibilities and later tried to cover things up.Erdoğan: Evidence shows Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murderedWebsite of Saudi investment conference hackedTurkey has not yet shared any information with any country on Khashoggi case: FMSaudi foreign minister pledges full probe into Khashoggi killing
Saudi Arabia ‘in crisis’ over Khashoggi: Minister
Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Tuesday hailed Saudi measures on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi for “setting the course for justice”.In a statement issued by his office, Hariri said King Salman’s instructions “will keep things in perspective and will respond to the malicious campaigns against the Kingdom”.He said the Saudi actions came “within the framework that serves the path of justice and the disclosure of the whole truth”.Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia last week claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.Saudi King Salman sacked the deputy of the intelligence service and a top aide and ordered the arrest of 18 suspects over the case.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.Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister admitted on Sunday that Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi Consulate but argued that the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was “not aware" of it.Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir claimed that it was a “rogue operation” by individuals who exceeded their responsibilities and later tried to cover things up.Turkey says will enlighten 'nefarious murder' of KhashoggiUS in 'fact-finding phase' on Khashoggi: KushnerTurkey says Khashoggi murder complicated and 'monstrously planned'
Lebanon’s Hariri hails Saudi effort on Khashoggi murder
Saudi Arabia's Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan met U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in Riyadh, a statement from the ministry said on Tuesday.Mnuchin said on Sunday Saudi Arabia's explanation of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was a "good first step but not enough", adding that it was premature to discuss sanctions over the incident.Mnuchin is touring the region to discuss counter-terrorism measures with Arab allies.Website of Saudi investment conference hackedSaudi stocks stumble amid Khashoggi killing falloutTurkey has not yet shared any information with any country on Khashoggi case: FM
Saudi says finance minister meets US Treasury Secretary