UPDATE - UN would investigate Khashoggi if Turkey requests

ADDS DETAILS THROUGHOUT

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The UN said Tuesday it would investigate the case of killed Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi if Turkey requests.

“We will wait to see whether we get a formal request from Turkey," UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters. "If we get something like that we will evaluate it and make a decision based on the request we received.”

For any UN probe to be successful the international body would need the cooperation of all relevant parties, Haq added.

Khashoggi, who wrote for the Washington Post, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

After denying knowledge of Khashoggi's whereabouts for more than two weeks, Saudi Arabia on Saturday said he was killed during a fight inside the diplomatic facility.

But Khashoggi's body has not been recovered, and Riyadh has yet to explain its shifting narrative on what transpired.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, said shortly after Saudi Arabia's announcement that the UN chief "is deeply troubled by the confirmation of the death of Jamal Khashoggi."

Guterres "stresses the need for a prompt, thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Khashoggi’s death and full accountability for those responsible," Guterres said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier Tuesday laid out his country’s initial findings in its investigation, saying Khashoggi's murder was "premeditated."

Erdogan said all information and evidence that has been uncovered showed Khashoggi was the victim of a brutal murder.

Saudi teams explored Istanbul's Belgrad Forest and the northwestern province of Yalova before murdering Khashoggi, Erdogan said.

*Betul Yuruk contributed to this report from the United Nations