RIYADH – In a sign of growing pressure on Saudi Arabia, Turkey said it willannounce details of its investigation into the killing of journalist JamalKhashoggi on Tuesday and US congressional leaders said the Gulf kingdom inparticular its crown prince should face severe consequences for the deathof the writer in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
The announcement on Sunday by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan thathe will “go into detail” about the Khashoggi case in a speech in parliamentheightened hopes for some clarity in a case that has been shrouded inmystery, conflicting accounts and shocking allegations.
Erdogan spoke after Saudi Arabia, in a statement early Saturday, finallyacknowledged that 59-year-old Khashoggi had died in the consulate, thoughits explanation that he was killed involuntarily in a “fistfight” was metwith international skepticism and allegations of a cover-up designed toabsolve Prince Mohammed of direct responsibility.
Saudi Arabia said 18 Saudis were arrested and that several top intelligenceofficials were fired.
Pro-government media in Turkey have reported a different narrative, sayinga Saudi hit squad of 15 people traveled to Turkey to kill thecolumnist for *TheWashington Post* before leaving the country hours later in private jets.
“Why did these 15 people come here? Why were 18 people arrested? All ofthis needs to be explained in all its details,” Erdogan said.
Read Top Stories
Meanwhile, Istanbul’s chief prosecutor summoned 28 more staff members ofthe Saudi consulate, including Turkish citizens and foreign nationals, togive testimony on Monday, Turkish state broadcaster *TRT* reported.
Prosecutors have previously questined consulate staff, some Turkishemployees reportedly said they were instructed not to go to work around thetime that Khashoggi disappeared.
Also, on Sunday, images that were obtained by *TRT World*, a Turkish newschannel that broadcasts in English, showed Khashoggi as he arrived at apolice barrier before entering the consulate on October 2. The images,taken from security camera video, show the writer being searched beforecontinuing toward the building. – APP/AFP
