[ad_1]
Multimedia playback is not supported on your device
US President Donald Trump said Saudi Arabia's response to the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was "the worst cover-up ever."
Those who are behind the murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul three weeks ago "should have big problems," he said.
Shortly after, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States would "punish those responsible" and revoked the visas of 21 identified suspects.
The Saudi government blamed the killing on dishonest agents.
Turkish President Erdogan said the journalist was the victim of a "political assassination" carefully planned by Saudi intelligence officers and other officials.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Mr. Trump said: "They had a very bad original concept, it was poorly executed and the concealment was the worst of the history of cover-ups.
"Anyone who has thought of this idea, I think it's a big problem, and they should be too."
The Saudi government has provided conflicting accounts of what happened to Khashoggi, an American resident and a Washington Post contributor. After weeks of maintenance, he was still alive, according to senior officials, who has now stated that the 59-year-old boy was murdered in a dishonest operation after visiting the Saudi Arabian consulate. Turkey.
The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said that EU member states should look for all the details of the murder and avoid any "trace of hypocrisy".
In a speech to the European Parliament, Mr Tusk said that he expected Member States and institutions to avoid any "ambiguous play".
What did Trump say?
Trump's public criticism of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday was the strongest so far, but he continued to emphasize the kingdom's importance as a nation. Ally of the United States.
In another Wall Street Journal interview, Trump spoke of the possible involvement of Saudi royal members in the murder and said he did not think King Salman was aware of the operation.
Asked about the possible role of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the president replied, "He's directing things and so if anyone wants to be [informed]it would be him. "
Multimedia playback is not supported on your device
He said he questioned the Crown Prince about Khashoggi's death and learned that he was unaware of the planned operation.
When asked if he believed in the refusal of the royal family, Mr. Trump would have given a long pause before saying, "I really want to believe them."
Trump also said that US intelligence officials were returning from Turkey and Saudi Arabia with information on the case.
CIA Director Gina Haspel has been sent to Turkey. Intelligence officials shared audio recording from Saudi Arabian consulate with her, says the Daily Sabah newspaper. The reported recording would reveal horrific details about the murder.
The American president seems to have changed his mind on the issue. A few days ago, an Arizona reporter asked him if he thought the explanation of Khashoggi's death by Saudi Arabia was credible. He replied, "Yes."
What will the United States do next?
Mr. Pompeo said that the United States was studying the possibility of imposing sanctions on those suspected of being involved in the killing of Khashoggi beyond the revocation of their visas.
"These sanctions will not be the last word of the United States on this subject," he added.
Copyright of the image
EPA
Mr. Pompeo told reporters that he was working on other measures against the alleged killers
Mr. Pompeo said the suspects worked in the Saudi intelligence services, the Foreign Ministry and the royal court. But a state department official said that they would not be named for reasons of "visa confidentiality".
What is the position of Turkey?
On Tuesday, the Turkish president told members of his ruling party that Khashoggi's assassination was planned several days in advance.
Erdogan said Turkey had strong evidence that the journalist was killed in a premeditated and "savage" murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.
He also called for the suspects to be tried in Istanbul.
Multimedia playback is not supported on your device
Mr. Erdogan's speech coincided with the start of a conference on investment in Saudi Arabia that was overshadowed by the Khashoggi affair. Dozens of government and corporate leaders withdrew, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman participated in the event on Tuesday.
- Saudi summit begins despite calls for boycott
- How the Saudis changed the history of Khashoggi
Many world leaders have condemned the murder of the prominent Saudi critic and demanded a thorough investigation.
Multimedia playback is not supported on your device
Where are the Saudis?
King Salman chaired a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, after which a statement said Saudi Arabia would hold the perpetrators accountable.
The state media also announced that the king and crown prince had held a meeting in Riyadh with members of the Khashoggi family, including Salah, Khashoggi's son. Associated Press reported that Salah was subject to a travel ban since last year because of his father's work.
Copyright of the image
EPA
The Saudi Crown Prince met Khashoggi's son Salah on Tuesday in Riyadh
What does Saudi Arabia say?
Saudi Arabia's account of Khashoggi's fate has not been consistent.
First of all, Khashoggi had left the building alive, then he had been killed in a "fist fight" inside the consulate, before finally declaring that Khashoggi had been murdered as part of his life. a "rogue operation" whose leaders had not been informed.
"The people who did it did so outside of their jurisdiction," Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told Fox News. "Obviously, a huge mistake has been made, and what has compounded the mistake is the concealment attempt."
He said that Saudi Arabia did not know where the body was.
- Is this the end of the Saudi prince's honeymoon?
An anonymous Saudi official told the Reuters news agency on Sunday that Khashoggi had died after he resisted any attempt to send him back to Saudi Arabia. His body was then rolled into a carpet and entrusted to a local "co-operator".
In addition to the arrests of 18 people, the Saudis claim to have sacked two of the Crown Prince's aides and set up an organization under his leadership to reform the intelligence agency.
- The Saudi summit website attacked by hackers
According to the Reuters news agency, citing sources of Turkish and Arab intelligence services, one of the dismissed collaborators appeared via Skype during Khashoggi's interrogation. Saud al-Qahtani reportedly said, "Bring me the dog's head," after the two men exchanged insults.
Sources say that President Erdogan has a copy of Skype audio but refuses to deliver it to the United States.
[ad_2]Source link
