Saudi delegation in Turkey for talks on missing journalist

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia pushed aside on Saturday accusations that Jamal Khashoggi was once ordered murdered by means of a hit squad inside of its Istanbul consulate as "lies and baseless allegations", as Riyadh and Ankara spa over the missing journalist's fate.
As the debate intensified, the Washington Post reported Turkish officials had recordings constituted of within the development that allegedly proved their claims Khashoggi was once tortured and killed on the consulate.

A Saudi delegation arrived in Turkey for talks, officials stated on Friday, with the case risking fragile relations between the two.

In the primary Saudi ministerial response to the accusations about Khashoggi's killing, Interior Minister Prince Abdel Aziz bin Saud bin Nayef stated that "what has been circulating about orders to kill him are lies and baseless allegations".

The Kingdom "is committed to its principles, rules and traditions and is in compliance with international laws and conventions", he added consistent with the reliable Saudi Press Agency.

The case risks damaging the picture of the dominion and its ties to the West as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promotes a reform drive at home.

Big names from media and industry have already cancelled appearances at a major convention in Riyadh this month.

Saudi journalist and Washington Post contributor Khashoggi vanished on October 2 after entering the consulate to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage.

Turkish authorities resources say police consider he was once killed however Riyadh denies that.

The Saudi delegation, whose composition was once now not instantly clear, is predicted to satisfy with Turkish officials in Ankara on the weekend, state media stated on Friday.

It is most likely that they will take part in a joint working team on the case, whose advent was once announced Thursday by means of Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin following a request by means of Saudi Arabia.

A Saudi reliable supply quoted by means of SPA information company stated it was once "a positive move" Turkey had agreed to the advent of what it described as a "joint action team" over Khashoggi's disappearance.

The Turkish management has so far stopped wanting accusing Saudi Arabia, despite the fact that pro-government media have printed sensational claims, including that an "assassination team" was once sent to Istanbul to kill Khashoggi.

In a unprecedented public remark on the case by means of a Saudi reliable, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Britain, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf al Saud, advised the BBC that Riyadh was once "concerned" about its citizen.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has challenged Saudi Arabia to offer CCTV images to back up its account that Khashoggi left the consulate safely.

Khashoggi, a Saudi nationwide residing in the United States since September 2017 fearing arrest, criticised some insurance policies of Mohammed bin Salman and Riyadh's intervention in the battle in Yemen.

The Washington Post reported the Turkish authorities has advised US officials it has audio and video recordings which show how Khashoggi was once "interrogated, tortured and then murdered" within the consulate sooner than his frame was once dismembered.

Turkish officials contacted by means of AFP refused to remark on the veracity of the report.

Ankara and Riyadh had been on opposing facets in the region on key issues, including the ousting of the Islamist Egyptian authorities and final yr's Saudi-led blockade on Turkey's regional best friend Qatar. Yet as key Sunni Muslim powers they've maintained cordial relations.

But regardless of Riyadh's agreement on Tuesday to let Turkish authorities seek the Saudi project, the probe has now not but taken position. The two facets had been in intense contacts to get to the bottom of the problem, local media reported.

Pro-government Turkish newspaper Sabah stated the search of the consulate had now not but took place because Saudi officials would best allow a superficial "visual" probe.

The Turkish side didn't accept the offer and Sabah stated officials wanted to go looking the development with luminol, a chemical that allows forensic teams to discover blood traces.

Officers have been having a look into sound recordings sent from a smart watch that Khashoggi was once wearing when he was once within the consulate to a mobile phone which he gave to his Turkish fiancee waiting out of doors, Hatice Cengiz.

Milliyet day by day reported that "arguments and shouting" could be heard on the recordings, however Sozcu newspaper stated best "some conversations" could be heard.

Bloomberg, the Financial Times, The Economist and The New York Times withdrew as media sponsors from the second Future Investment Initiative to be held between October 23-25 in Riyadh dubbed "Davos in the Desert" after the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort.

The CEO of ride-hailing app Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, stated that he will no longer be attending the event except "a substantially different set of facts emerges".

British entrepreneur Richard Branson stated he would suspend two directorships linked to tourism projects in Saudi Arabia over concerns in regards to the missing journalist.

Amnesty International demanded the Saudi authorities expose what took place to Khashoggi as it stated Riyadh was once "responsible at a minimum for enforced disappearance".