Turkish and Saudi investigators on Monday began conducting a joint inspection of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi went missing.

Iran Press/Asia: The investigation team arrived by unmarked police car and said nothing to journalists waiting outside as international concern continues to grow over Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance nearly two weeks ago, WRAL-TV reported.

American lawmakers have threatened tough punitive action against the Saudis, and Germany, France and Britain have jointly called for a "credible investigation" into Khashoggi's disappearance.

Turkish officials have said they fear a Saudi hit team that flew into and out of Turkey on Oct. 2 killed and dismembered Khashoggi, who had written Washington Post columns critically of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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Recordings are evidence of Khashoggi's killing: Turkey

Turkish officials have shared contents of video and audio recordings that reportedly contain evidence supporting claims that Saudi journalist was murdered by the Saudi government.

The disclosure of the new evidence concerning Khashoggi came as the Trump administration said it was awaiting a determination regarding the well-known writer and columnist’s fate, but also as Republican and Democrats intensified pressure on the White House to prepare for a “severe” response.

The kingdom has called such allegations "baseless" but has not offered any evidence Khashoggi ever left the consulate.

Such a search would be an extraordinary development, as embassies and consulates under the Vienna Convention are technically foreign soil. Saudi Arabia may have agreed to the search in order to appease its' Western allies and the international community.

Khashoggi's disappearance has evolved into a full-fledged international diplomatic crisis for the Saudi government, led by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Salman cast himself as a progressive reformer, but the disappearance and possible murder of a critical voice against his government has thrown Salman's relationship with foreign leaders and organizations into question.

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