Iran press/ Europe: The Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, on Saturday called for a deeper investigation into Saudi Arabia’s admission that Washington Post journalist, Jamal Khashoggi died within the walls of Riyadh’s consulate in Istanbul, Sputnik reported.
'A lot still remains uncertain,' Rutte noted to reporters in Copenhagen on Saturday.
'What happened? How did he die? Who is responsible?' The Dutch Prime Minister said, adding, 'I expect and I hope that all relevant facts will be clear as soon as possible.'
A 'thorough investigation is necessary,' the Dutch PM noted, cited by Reuters.
Khashoggi, a former Riyadh insider who wrote unsparingly of the kingdom's policies including its ongoing war in Yemen, disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul some two weeks ago, and has now been acknowledged by Saudi officials as having 'died in a fistfight'.
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Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that preliminary results of investigations showed Jamal Khashoggi died in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul after a fight with people he met there, state media reported.
"The investigations are still underway and 18 Saudi nationals have been arrested," a statement from the Saudi public prosecutor said, adding Royal court adviser Saud al-Qahtani and deputy intelligence chief Ahmed Asiri have been sacked from their positions, Reuters reported.
Ahmad al-Assiri served as an adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who promoted him to his intelligence position last year, and is considered to be one of his closest aides.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Saudi Arabia's explanation for how journalist Jamal Khashoggi died at its' consulate in Istanbul was credible.
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Speaking to reporters, Trump said Saudi Arabia's announcement on the circumstances of Khashoggi's death was a "good first step." He also said he prefers that any sanctions against Riyadh not include canceling big defense orders.
Republican and Democrat lawmakers have called on the US to halt sales of arms to Saudi Arabia and to conduct an independent investigation into Khashoggi’s death saying that any investigation by the Saudis could not be trusted.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also reacted to the Saudi announcement, saying he was "deeply troubled" by the confirmation of Khashoggi’s death, a UN spokesman said.
The spokesman also said Guterres “stresses need for prompt, thorough, transparent investigation” into circumstances, and full accountability for those responsible.”
Further More, the leader of Lebanon's Islamic resistance movement Hezbollah, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday October 19, 2018, emphasised that Khashoggi murder has placed Saudi Arabia and US in a difficult position.
Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain a document certifying he divorced his ex-wife so he could remarry.
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Nasrallah: Saudi Arabia and US in a difficult bind after Khashoggi murder
UK warns of 'consequences' for Saudi ties in Khashoggi case
Erdogan on Saudi journalist vanishing: "Upsetting this event happened in Turkey"
