Murder Khashoggi: Ryad wants to draw a line but the crisis could continue

Ryad – Saudi Arabia is trying to kill the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but remains under tight international scrutiny and facing challenges, including in the United States and Turkey, badysts say.

Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi power critic, was killed on October 2 by Saudi agents in his country's consulate in Istanbul, a global affair that tarnished the image of the kingdom, the world's largest oil exporter.

On Thursday, the Saudi Attorney General's Office cleared Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, demanding capital punishment for five of the 11 unidentified suspects in custody, he said.

Ryad's historic ally, Washington hastened to announce sanctions against 17 Saudis implicated in the case, anticipating tougher measures against the kingdom by a US Congress visibly recovered, according to experts.

Saudi Arabia has changed its story of the journalist's murder several times, initially denying knowing his whereabouts before stating that he was killed in a "brawlIn the latest version presented by the Prosecutor General's Office, a team of 15 agents went to Turkey to bring back "By fair means or foul"Khashoggi in the country, but the operation went wrong and he was brutalized and"drug"before his body is"dismembered".

The names of three relatives of Prince Mohammed have been cited in the investigations in Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

"Saudi Arabian government steps up investigation and prosecution of suspects to defuse potential escalation by Turkey and the US Congress", the badyst firm Eurasia Group said, adding that the power is in"crisis mode".

"Although the (Saudi) investigation is not particularly independent, it has removed the Crown Prince from the whole affair", according to Eurasia Group."Yet despite efforts, the case will continue to pose challenges to Saudi leaders".

– "Concealment"-

On Friday, the Washington Post editorial board, which Jamal Khashoggi collaborated with, denounced the apparent contradictions in the Saudi story, accusing the US administration of Donald Trump of being an accomplice toSaudi concealment".

"Congress should suspend all military sales and cooperation with Ryad until a credible international investigation is completed", did he declare.

Saudi Arabia rejected calls for an international investigation.

"It seems that American pressure will not disappear anytime soon"said Steffen Hertog, badociate professor at the London School of Economics.Apart from sanctions on arms sales – which Trump will resist – Congress can do is not entirely clear. Direct sanctions against Prince Mohammed seem unlikely, as are financial sanctions".

But Saudi attempts to silence or dismiss senior officials involved in the killing could have adverse effects, according to experts.

"It is very risky for the prince to threaten with death those who seem to follow orderssaid Bessma Momani, a professor at the University of Waterloo (Canada).This could create uncontrolled elements within secret services that would protect their personal interests before executing orders".

After the murder, King Salman ordered a reorganization of the intelligence apparatus under the leadership of MBS who, upon his appointment as Crown Prince in 2017, neutralized his political rivals and strengthened his grip on security agencies.

– Haggling with Ankara? –

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Khashoggi's badbadination order came out "of the highest levels of the Saudi government", apparently referring to Prince Mohammed.

Ankara judged "inadequate"The latest indications of the kingdom." And the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet has reported other elements that contradict the Saudi version of the murder, including a second audio recording.

"The Saudis think that with time, people will forget the case that will soon be under the spotlight"said Ms. Momani.The audio recordings are the last lever available to the Turks (..) who have made it clear that they share them widely.".

Ankara's position will potentially depend onwhat she will get in exchange"silence, according to the expert.

Thursday, the US State Department said that Washington continues to study the Turkish request for extradition of the preacher Fethullah Gulen, accused by Ankara of orchestrating the failed coup of 2016.

According to the NBC channel, this is part of a diplomatic effort to have Mr. Erdogan reduce the pressure on Ryad in the Khashoggi case.

Meanwhile, the dignitaries of the Saudi royal family stand together. King Salman and his son, Prince Mohammed, launched an unprecedented national tour to strengthen ties with various tribal and religious leaders.