Jamal Khashoggi: Saudi consul's home to be searched for clues over missing journalist
Turkish forensic teams have been allowed into the Saudi consulate building where the renowned journalist聽was last seen entering.
Tuesday 16 October 2018 17:32, UK
Turkish police are to search the Saudi consul's private residence in Istanbul over the disappearance and alleged murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Mr Khashoggi has not been seen since he entered the Saudi consulate building in Istanbul nearly two weeks ago.
There are claims he was killed and dismembered inside the building by a 15-member Saudi "assassination squad".
Saudi Arabia previously called the allegation "baseless", but reports suggest they may admit Mr Khashoggi died during a botched interrogation.
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo arrived in Riyadh this morning to hold talks about the case with Saudi King Salman.
Overnight, Turkish forensic teams searched the consulate building where renowned journalist Mr Khashoggi was last seen entering.
Until Monday, Riyadh had not allowed Turkish investigators to search the consulate, with reports that both sides were at odds over the conditions.
The investigators, who eventually searched the premises for eight hours, took samples with them, including soil from the consulate garden, according to an official at the scene.
Forensic vehicles also took away a metal door from the garden.
"The Turkish crime scene investigators carried out searches in the consulate and took the things deemed necessary," a senior Turkish official said, acknowledging the difficulty of collecting evidence 13 days after the alleged incident.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the investigation in the Saudi consulate is looking into toxic materials.
Mr Erdogan added that he hoped a reasonable view would be reached as soon as possible in the investigation.
A search of the Saudi consul's personal residence in Istanbul is due to get under way today.
Mr Pompeo was greeted by the king at the royal palace, and thanked the king "for accepting my visit on behalf of President (Donald) Trump" before going into a closed-door meeting.
Speaking on Monday, Mr Trump said Saudi leader King Salman denied "any knowledge of whatever may have happened" during a phone call.
But the US president also said "rogue killers" could be behind the disappearance and that King Salman had told him Saudi Arabia is "working closely with Turkey to find answers".
Mr Pompeo is due to have dinner with King Salman's son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, after meeting the king.
He may then travel to Turkey.
The international community has demanded Riyadh provide clear answers over Mr Khashoggi's case.
Germany, Britain and France issued a joint statement over the weekend expressing "grave concern", calling for a credible investigation to ensure those responsible for the disappearance "are held to account".
The US state department has also urged a thorough investigation into the disappearance.
Mr Khashoggi appeared regularly on Arab talk shows and moved to Washington last year.
He had been critical of Prince Mohammed, who has cracked down on dissent with arrests.
Members of Mr Khashoggi's family have called for "an independent and impartial international" investigation.
His fiancee Hatice Cengiz, who was waiting outside the consulate the day he disappeared, tweeted a verse from the Koran warning those who kill on purpose, with the hashtag "Jamal is the Martyr of the Word".
Meanwhile, the UN human rights chief has called for Saudi diplomatic immunity at "relevant premises" to be waived "immediately" for anyone who could be involved in Mr Khashoggi's disappearance.
"In view of the seriousness of the situation surrounding the disappearance of Mr Khashoggi, I believe the inviolability or immunity of the relevant premises and officials... should be waived immediately," Michelle Bachelet said.