Spain, Japan react on killing of Saudi journalist

By Fatih Hafiz Mehmet and Muhammet Ikbal Arslan

ANKARA (AA) - Spain and Japan reacted on Monday to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference on Monday that the death of Jamal Khashoggi is "extremely regretful", according to Japanese news agency Kyodo.

Suga said that Japan "strongly hopes for an early discovery of the truth and fair, transparent responses" through Turkey's investigation of the case.

Spanish government is also "upset" by the statements of Saudi Arabia regarding the killing of Khashoggi, according to written statement from Spain's Ankara Embassy on Monday.

The statement said the perpetrators of the incident should pay the price of it before justice "after a wide-scoped and transparent investigation".

It also said the Spanish government offers their condolences to Khashoggi's family.

Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.

On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.

A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.