Trump says not enough evidence to blame Saudi prince for Khashoggi killing

US President Donald Trump is insisting there’s not enough evidence to blame Saudi Arabia’s crown prince for the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi Consulate in Turkey.

Trump tells reporters during a Thanksgiving appearance at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida: “Maybe the world should be held accountable ’cause the world is a vicious place.”

Saudi prosecutors have said a 15-man team sent to Istanbul killed Khashoggi with tranquilizers.

Trump pushes back on the idea his refusal to punish the Saudis more will embolden other governments to go after journalists and commit other human rights abuses. Trump calls the kingdom an important ally that has helped to lower oil prices.

Republicans and Democrats have accused Trump of ignoring US intelligence that concluded it was likely the crown prince ordered the killing. Trump says the CIA’s report was inclusive.

— AP