Saudi Arabia revealed the preliminary results of its investigation into missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying that he died after a “fistfight” in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, state media reported.
The newscast said that a fight broke out between Khashoggi and the people who met him in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, where he was last seen entering on October 2.
The fight led to his death, according to the investigation.
Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor said the investigation will continue with a focus on 18 Saudi suspects, who have been arrested.
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State television also said that Saud al-Qahtani, an advisor to the royal court, and deputy intelligence officer Ahmed El Asiri have been fired from their positions.
Saudi King Salman has ordered the formation of a ministerial committee with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman at the head to restructure the general intelligence agency, according to the newscast.
Saturday’s comments are the first time since Khashoggi went missing that Saudi Arabia has said he is dead.
Turkish officials said after an investigation into Khashoggi’s disappearance that he was killed and dismembered inside the consulate by members of an assassination squad with ties to bin Salman — a report that Saudi Arabia had dismissed.
The White House said on Friday in a statement it had seen the announcement of Saudi Arabia’s probe into the death of Khashoggi and would continue to press for “justice that is timely, transparent, and in accordance with all due process.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said that the Saudis’ report is a “good first step” and that he found it credible, although he called the allegation that Khashoggi died after a fistfight a “theory.” He also said what happened is “unacceptable.”
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However, Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been sharply critical of Saudi Arabia after the disappearance of Khashoggi, said on Friday he was highly skeptical of the Saudi explanation.
“To say that I am skeptical of the new Saudi narrative about Mr. Khashoggi is an understatement,” Graham said on Twitter.
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— With files from Reuters
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