BUDAPEST – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday asked Saudiofficials to prove their claim that missing journalist and Riyadh criticJamal Khashoggi left the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
“Consulate officials cannot save themselves by saying that he left thebuilding… Don t you have camera?” Erdogan told a news conference. “If heleft, you have to prove it with footage. Those who ask Turkish authoritieswhere he is should ask what happened.”
Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor, vanished last Tuesday afterentering the consulate to receive official documents ahead of his marriageto a Turkish woman.
Police said at the weekend that around 15 Saudis, including officials,arrived in Istanbul on two flights on Tuesday and were at the consulate atthe same time as Khashoggi.
A Turkish government source had told AFP that the police believe thejournalist “was killed by a team especially sent to Istanbul and who leftthe same day”.
Riyadh vehemently denies the claim and says Khashoggi left the consulate.
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Turkey on Monday sought permission to search the consulate premises,Turkish TV reported.
The move came after the foreign ministry summoned the Saudi ambassador fora second time Sunday over the journalist s disappearance.
Erdogan said Turkish police and intelligence had been mobilised toinvestigate the case.
“The airport exit and departure are being examined. There are people whocame from Saudi Arabia,” he said. “The chief prosecutor s office isinvestigating the issue.” – APP/AFP
