Turkish investigators were to search the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Monday for the first time since journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared, as King Salman denied any knowledge of his fate in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Mr. Khashoggi, a Saudi national, who became increasingly critical of powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has not been seen since he walked into the Istanbul consulate to sort out marriage paperwork on October 2.
Turkish officials have said they believe he was killed — a claim Saudi Arabia has denied — with the controversy dealing a huge blow to the kingdom’s image and efforts by its youthful crown prince to showcase a reform drive.
After speaking by phone with King Salman, Mr. Trump said he had denied having any knowledge of what happened, with the U.S. President suggesting “rogue killers” could be to blame and dispatching Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the kingdom.
Until now, Riyadh has not allowed investigators to search the consulate, with reports that both sides were at odds over the conditions.
But a Turkish diplomatic source said the search, a joint operation with Saudi authorities, was expected to “take place towards the evening” on Monday.
Dozens of media organisations have kept a constant vigil outside the consulate in the expectation that the search would finally begin. Cleaners were seen entering the building around lunchtime, causing a minor flurry of excitement, an AFP reporter said.
First such talks
Mr. Trump’s conversation with King Salman, father of the crown prince, was the first such talks since the crisis erupted.
“Just spoke to the King of Saudi Arabia who denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened ‘to our Saudi Arabian citizen’,” Mr. Trump tweeted. Riyadh’s recent comments have focused on having no knowledge of any killing or denying any such order had been given.
“The denial was very, very strong,” he later told reporters. “It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?”
