Again changing stories, Saudi Arabia says Khashoggi murder was ‘premeditated’

Saudi Arabia said Thursday that the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul was “premeditated” based on information supplied by Turkey, state media reported.

“Information from the Turkish authorities indicates that the act of the suspects in the Khashoggi case was premeditated,” the public prosecutor said in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

“The public prosecution continues its investigation with suspects… to complete the course of justice,” the statement said.

Saudi Arabia initially claimed Khashoggi left freely after visiting the consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to complete paperwork for his marriage to his Turkish fiancee.

But, as international pressure mounted, the kingdom said on Saturday that the Washington Post contributor and critic of the Saudi government died inside the mission when an argument degenerated into a fistfight.

But the kingdom later acknowledged that Khashoggi had in fact been murdered, as Turkish officials said all along. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir blamed the murder on a “rogue operation” by individuals who “exceeded their responsibilities” and then “tried to cover up for it.”

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On Wednesday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman broke his silence on the matter and condemned the “heinous” crime that he said was “painful to all Saudis.”

Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative, Salman warned other countries against trying to “manipulate” the crisis and drive a wedge between Riyadh and Ankara, and said his government was cooperating with Turkish authorities investigating the murder.

In the wake of Khashoggi killing, the kingdom sacked two top aides to Salman as well as three intelligence officials, and arrested 18 Saudi suspects.

However, Turkey and Western governments have said the Saudi explanations so far lack credibility, and that many questions still remain.

Britain and France are demanding more information about the circumstances surrounding Khashoggi’s killing, while US President Donald Trump has accused Riyadh of lying about the murder.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier this week said the “savage” murder had been planned, while local media have published gruesome details of Khashoggi’s alleged torture and decapitation.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said “there are still questions that need answers,” and demanded the Saudis explain why the 18 were arrested.

“Who gave them the orders?” he asked, pointing out that Khashoggi’s body had still not been found.

“Where is (the body)? You admit they did it, but why are they not saying (where)?” Cavusoglu told a press conference in Ankara with Palestinian Authority foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki.

“His family also wants to know and pay their final tribute.”

The Turkish minister repeated Erdogan’s demand that those involved in the murder be legally tried in Turkey, adding that Ankara was willing to cooperate with everyone.

Turkey did not have “any desire” to take the case to an international court, he added, but would be willing to share information and the outcomes of its investigation.

CIA Director Gina Haspel visited Ankara on Tuesday for talks, with Turkish pro-government media claiming on Wednesday intelligence officials shared evidence with her.

The officials provided Haspel with video images and audio tapes as well as evidence gathered from the consulate and the consul’s residence during a briefing at the Turkish Intelligence Organisation (MIT), Sabah newspaper reported.

Asked about to confirm whether this was true, Cavusoglu said he could not provide an exact answer but said Turkey would “share documents and evidence in our hands with countries and institutions which wanted it”