Death of Khashoggi: Saudi prince may have been involved, says Trump | News from the world

Donald Trump said for the first time that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman could have been involved in the operation to badbadinate dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, stressing that "the prince is directing the situation there" in Riyadh.

The comments, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, seemed to mark a change of view of the president on Khashoggi's badbadination on Oct. 2 at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul.

Trump has already seemed caught unawares by Saudi royal denials, but one day the State Department announced that it would revoke the visas of Saudi officials involved in the author's death, sanctions sanctioned Wednesday by the United Kingdom, it seemed to give the benefit of the doubt to King Salman but not necessarily to his powerful son.

Asked about the possible involvement of the Crown Prince, Trump said, "Well, the prince is directing things there more so at this point. He runs a business and if anyone wants to do it, it will be him.

The interview was published in a pro-government Turkish newspaper that allegedly revealed to CIA director Gina Haspel audio and video evidence of the torture and murder of Khashoggi. The evidence would have been in the possession of the Turkish intelligence services.

Haspel went to Ankara on Monday evening to help the Turkish investigation into Khashoggi's death. Four sources close to the mission file told Reuters that he had asked to view the tapes.

Although regular leaks in the media were leaked in the three weeks following Khashoggi's disappearance, there is evidence of audio and video evidence that contradicts Saudi Arabia's explanation of his death. there has been no official confirmation from the Turkish authorities.

In a speech to Parliament on the day of Haspel's visit, in which Erdoğan had promised to deliver the "naked truth" about what had happened to Khashoggi, he did not mention the existence of gangs. magnetic.

During discussions at the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) in Turkey, the authorities presented the evidence gathered so far, including audio and video recordings and search results at the Consulate and at the Consul General's offices. announced Sabah, a pro-government newspaper.

Trump told the Wall Street Journal that he had closely questioned Prince Mohammed about the murder of Khashoggi, asking questions repeatedly and "in different ways."

"My first question was:" Did you know anything about initial planning? "… Prince Mohammed replied that he did not know it," Trump said.

"I said," Where did it start? "And he said it started at lower levels."

When asked if he believed in denial, the president paused for several seconds. "I want to believe them. I really want to believe them, "he said.

Trump has issued conflicting messages in recent weeks, promising "very serious" consequences and mentioning possible economic sanctions, while ruling out a deadlock in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United States. highlighting the role of the country as an ally of the United States against Iran. and Islamist militants.

At the weekend, he said that Saudi claims that Khashoggi died during a fist fight were credible.

His Wall Street Journal remarks come as the State Department announces that 21 Saudi visas will have their US visas revoked or will no longer be eligible for a US visa for the journalist's murder.

Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, said other measures were under consideration, including sanctions: "These sanctions will not be the last word of the United States in this regard.

"We say very clearly that the United States does not tolerate this kind of ruthless action aimed at silencing Mr. Khashoggi, a journalist, with violence," said Pompeo. "Neither the president nor I are happy with this situation."

Theresa May, speaking Wednesday in the House of Commons, said she would also take steps to prevent suspects from entering the UK. "If these people currently have visas, they will be revoked today," she told MPs.

Visa revocations by the United States have been the first punitive measures taken by the Trump administration against Saudi Arabia since the disappearance of Khashoggi. Under pressure from Congress, however, it is likely that Riyadh will receive a higher price for the badbadination of Khashoggi, US resident and columnist of the Washington Post, the Crown Prince's critic.

Addressing reporters from the Oval Office, Trump spoke with contempt of the badbadination plot: "They had a very bad original concept. This went wrong and the concealment was one of the worst in the history of concealment ".

He went back to the theme of how the crime was committed during a dinner with military leaders: "They executed poorly and they did poorly to talk about it or conceal it," he said. declared.

"I say they should never have thought about it. Once they thought about it, everything they did was bad too … It should never have happened.

Erdoğan publicly rejected the Saudi version in his Tuesday speech, making further allegations that Khashoggi was a "savage murder" and premeditated, and calling for an independent investigation.