Turkish president says Khashoggi's "savage" murder "planned for days"
- 6 years ago
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said a prominent Saudi journalist died as a result of a brutal premeditated murder, urging Saudi Arabia to turn over the suspects for trial in Istanbul.
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…
Aram… tell us more….
Well Mark… President Erdogan delivered a sharp rebuttal of Saudi Arabia's widely criticized account that Jamal Khashoggi died in a rogue operation.
He told ruling party lawmakers on Tuesday that Saudi officials had planned the killing for days.
"Some information gathered by our security and intelligence evidences, that are still being evaluated indicates already that the incident was certainly planned….."
He gave a detailed account of the suspects' whereabouts prior to and during the day of what he called Khashoggi's "savage" murder.
There were no bombshell revelations, but among some of the new details Erdogan revealed was an allegation that a team of Saudi agents went on a reconnaissance mission to a forest on the outskirts of Istanbul.
He didn't specifically say why the area was scouted, but there have been suggestions that Khashoggi's body may have been disposed of there.
Erdogan also claimed that security cameras at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul were disconnected hours before Khashoggi arrived for his appointment to obtain paperwork for his planned marriage.
The Turkish president stopped short of mentioning the Saudi crown prince ordered the killing, but called on him to extradite the suspects to Turkey.
"My call is to first and foremost Saudi Arabia's King Salman and to senior administration. Istanbul is where the incident took place. Therefore my offer is for these 15 people plus 3 people the 18 arrested to be tried in Istanbul."
Saudi Arabia has been under intense global pressure to give details about what happened to Khashoggi, with many government officials and business leaders boycotting an investment conference in Saudi Arabia that coincided with Erdogan's speech.
The Kingdom has given conflicting accounts of what happened to Khashoggi without providing much evidence.
Riyadh is yet to comment on Erdogan's accusations.
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…
Aram… tell us more….
Well Mark… President Erdogan delivered a sharp rebuttal of Saudi Arabia's widely criticized account that Jamal Khashoggi died in a rogue operation.
He told ruling party lawmakers on Tuesday that Saudi officials had planned the killing for days.
"Some information gathered by our security and intelligence evidences, that are still being evaluated indicates already that the incident was certainly planned….."
He gave a detailed account of the suspects' whereabouts prior to and during the day of what he called Khashoggi's "savage" murder.
There were no bombshell revelations, but among some of the new details Erdogan revealed was an allegation that a team of Saudi agents went on a reconnaissance mission to a forest on the outskirts of Istanbul.
He didn't specifically say why the area was scouted, but there have been suggestions that Khashoggi's body may have been disposed of there.
Erdogan also claimed that security cameras at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul were disconnected hours before Khashoggi arrived for his appointment to obtain paperwork for his planned marriage.
The Turkish president stopped short of mentioning the Saudi crown prince ordered the killing, but called on him to extradite the suspects to Turkey.
"My call is to first and foremost Saudi Arabia's King Salman and to senior administration. Istanbul is where the incident took place. Therefore my offer is for these 15 people plus 3 people the 18 arrested to be tried in Istanbul."
Saudi Arabia has been under intense global pressure to give details about what happened to Khashoggi, with many government officials and business leaders boycotting an investment conference in Saudi Arabia that coincided with Erdogan's speech.
The Kingdom has given conflicting accounts of what happened to Khashoggi without providing much evidence.
Riyadh is yet to comment on Erdogan's accusations.