German FM puts trip to Saudi Arabia on hold pending Khashoggi probe

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas is putting a planned trip to Saudi Arabia on hold pending the outcome of an investigation into the disappearance and alleged slaying of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi.

Maas tells reporters that “regarding my travel plans … we will wait for the time being.”

He calls the case “extremely worrying … and disturbing” and demanded a complete and quick clarification of what has happened to Khashoggi.

Khashoggi vanished October 2 during a visit to the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, and Turkish officials have claimed Saudi agents killed and dismembered the Washington Post columnist.

Maas says once the Saudi government makes an expected statement, “we’ll use that as an opportunity to consider again if a trip to Saudi Arabia at this time makes sense or not.”

— AP