'Big trouble': Donald Trump warns those behind Jamal Khashoggi killing
The president says he is to receive details about the suspected murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a briefing later today.
Wednesday 24 October 2018 10:34, UK
Donald Trump has described the killing and subsequent cover-up of the death of Jamal Khashoggi as a "fiasco", saying those behind the killing "should be in big trouble".
Mr Trump told reporters he had spoken to Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman hours after Turkey accused the Saudis of being behind the journalist's premeditated murder.
He added: "I spoke with the King. I spoke with the crown prince yesterday and he strongly said that he had nothing to do with this."
Two sources have told Sky News "cut up" body parts belonging to Mr Khashoggi have been found, with one of those saying they were discovered in the garden of the Saudi consul general's home in Istanbul.
Mr Trump described the events following the disappearance of the Saudi dissident on 2 October as "no good".
:: Jamal Khashoggi: How journalist met his death
Speaking on Tuesday at the Oval Office, the US leader criticised the country's long-term ally for one of the "worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups".
The president said: "There should have never been an execution or a cover-up, because it should have never happened.
"It was a total fiasco. The process was no good. The execution was no good. And the cover-up, if you want to call it that, was certainly no good.
"Whoever thought of that idea I think is in big trouble - and they should be in big trouble."
Mr Trump went on to say he would be briefed about the suspected murder on Wednesday afternoon by US officials after the head of the CIA's visit to Istanbul.
After this, Mr Trump said: "We'll know pretty much everything there is to know."
The US kept its promise to respond to the killing by revoking the visas of some of the Saudi officials implicated in Mr Khashoggi's death.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US had identified "some" of those involved and the state department later said 21 "Saudi suspects" would be declared ineligible to enter the US.
Mr Pompeo said the move to revoke visas was just a first step.
Turkish media have identified a hit squad of 15 people who are alleged to have been involved in Mr Khashoggi's murder and Saudi authorities have arrested 18 people in connection with the death.
Saudi Arabia says Mr Khashoggi died in a "fist fight" at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October.
Among the developments during the day on Tuesday:
:: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded Saudi officials reveal the whereabouts of Mr Khashoggi's body
:: Mr Erdogan also said Saudi Arabia must identify those who ordered the journalist's killing and and turn over the suspects for trial
:: The dissident's son met Saudi ruler King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh
:: Turkish media said Mr Khashoggi's belongings were found in suitcases in a Saudi consulate car
:: Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was "deeply concerned" to hear Mr Erdogan call it a premeditated murder
:: The widow of ex-Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko called the death a wake-up call about authoritarian states.
Mr Khashoggi was a known critic of the Saudi government and Mohammed bin Salman, known as MBS.
The Turkish president did not mention the crown prince in his speech to his country's parliament, though officials linked to the royal have been implicated in it.
Saudi Arabia has said the heir apparent of the world's top oil exporter was not involved, but any major decision must be signed off by the highest powers within its ruling Al Saud family.