Turkey supports UN call for probe of Khashoggi murder

By Hasan Huseyin Kosger

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey strongly supports a UN report urging an investigation into those responsible for the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, according to Turkey's foreign minister.

"Strongly endorse UN Rapporteur Agnes Callamard's recommendations for elucidating Khashoggi’s murder & holding those responsible accountable," Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Twitter.

A UN report on Wednesday said the murder of Khashoggi “constituted an extrajudicial killing” for which "Saudi Arabia is responsible.”

In the report, Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, said she found “credible evidence” to further probe Saudi officials’ individual liability in the Khashoggi killing, including Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

Urging the kingdom to apologize to Turkey for “the abuse of its diplomatic privileges and the violation of the prohibition against extra territorial use of force,” the report also urged further investigations by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the FBI.

Khashoggi was killed and dismembered by a group of Saudi operatives shortly after he entered the country's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey last Oct. 2.

Riyadh offered various, conflicting narratives to explain his disappearance before acknowledging he was killed in the diplomatic building, seeking to blame his death on a botched rendition operation carried out by rogue agents.