UK demands 'accountability' for Khashoggi murder

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - The British government on Thursday said it want to see accountability for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In a statement, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: “The U.K. has been clear that we need to see accountability for the horrific murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.”

“As the Foreign Secretary reiterated to His Majesty King Salman, Crown Prince Bin Salman and other senior figures in the Saudi government this week, we expect Saudi Arabia to take action to ensure such violations of international and national laws cannot happen again,” it said.

Earlier, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said his country considered last month’s murder of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi as a “crime” and a “big mistake”.

Also on Thursday, the Saudi Public Prosecution said the order to kill Khashoggi had come from the head of a team tasked by the Saudi leadership with negotiating with the journalist.

The FCO said the beginning of a judicial process “should be a step towards accountability” but “we are watching closely and expect the continuing investigation to proceed in line with internationally recognised legal standards.”

“It is the longstanding position of the UK Government to oppose to capital sentences in all circumstances and countries,” the statement added.

Khashoggi, a frequent contributor to The Washington Post, was killed on Oct. 2 inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

After weeks of denying any involvement in the crime, Saudi Arabia later admitted that Khashoggi had been killed inside the consulate but claimed the Saudi royal family had no prior knowledge of any plot to murder the journalist.

So far, 18 people, including security officers, have been arrested in Saudi Arabia in connection with the murder.

On Oct. 31, Turkish prosecutors announced preliminary findings that suggest Khashoggi was strangled to death in a premeditated killing soon after he entered the consulate.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said Khashoggi's body was disposed of after being dismembered.

Saudi authorities have so far claimed no knowledge of the whereabouts of his remains.