Missing journalist: Ankara expects Riyadh’s cooperation

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Monday conveyed its expectation of "full cooperation" from Saudi Arabia in search of the missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

According to a diplomatic source, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Ankara Waleed A. M. Elkhereiji was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Sunday.

"Deputy foreign minister Sedat Onal invited Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the Ministry yesterday. Our expectation of full cooperation during the investigation process [on missing journalist] was conveyed to him," said a diplomatic source.

Jamal Khashoggi, journalist and regular columnist for the Washington Post, has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

Turkish police investigating the case had said in a statement Saturday that 15 Saudis, including several officials, had arrived in Istanbul on two planes and had entered the consulate while Khashoggi was inside.

The Turkish police in Istanbul has been keeping an eye on the comings and goings at the Saudi consulate since the time -- according to the journalist's fiancee – Khashoggi entered the building.

The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul initiated an investigation on the day of the incident while the consulate also said on Twitter that it was working in coordination with Turkish authorities.