Erdogan: KSA took ‘important step’ but more answers needed

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a speech to parliament on Tuesday regarding the Turkish account of the case of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (File/AFP)

• The Turkish president expressed desire to conduct a joint investigation with the Saudis
• Erdogan said he does not doubt King Salman’s sincerity in the matter

JEDDAH: Jamal Khashoggi’s killers should go on trial in Turkey, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.
The Saudi authorities’ declaration last week that Khashoggi had been murdered was “an important step,” Erdogan said, and the investigation would continue until the full facts were known.
“Personally, I do not doubt the sincerity of King Salman,” he said. “It is very important for such a critical investigation to be carried out by objective, fair teams.”
Erdogan said the murder at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul appeared to have been planned, and he expected Saudi Arabia “to uncover all those responsible for this matter from top to bottom and make them face the necessary punishments before the law.”
He added: “We will of course investigate this murder within our borders and do everything necessary. The fact that Jamal Khashoggi was an internationally renowned journalist puts an international responsibility on us.”
Later, Erdogan called the Khashoggi family in Saudi Arabia to offer his condolences.