Saudi crown prince arrives in Cairo on regional tour

Mohammed bin Salman received by Egyptian president on third leg of maiden international trip since killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

CAIRO, Egypt — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Cairo on Monday, the latest leg of his first foreign tour since the killing of critic Jamal Khashoggi sparked a global outcry.

The kingdom’s de facto ruler was met on arrival by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, a source at the airport said.

Prince Mohammed began his regional tour on Thursday, travelling to close ally, the United Arab Emirates, before arriving in Bahrain on Sunday.

In Egypt, the royal’s talks with Sissi are expected to focus on “reinforcing bilateral relations and on regional issues of common interest,” presidency spokesman Bassam Radi told AFP.

After an overnight stay in Cairo, the crown prince is due to travel to Tunisia where protests against the visit have been organized by student bodies for Tuesday.

People hold posters picturing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and candles during a gathering outside the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul, on October 25, 2018. (Yasin Akgul/AFP)

Around 100 people joined an initial demonstration on Monday in the capital Tunis, which had been called by the journalists’ union and several NGOs and civil society organizations.

Prince Mohammed’s tour comes weeks after the murder of journalist Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul.

Riyadh initially claimed Khashoggi left the consulate unharmed on October 2, before ultimately admitting he was murdered in what officials said was a “rogue” operation.

Saudi Arabia has been put under intense international pressure over the killing and has brought charges over a number of suspects, while denying the country’s powerful crown prince was involved.