Saturday, 20 October 2018

BREAKING: Khashoggi case - the cover-up begins


Jamal Khashoggi is dead, Saudi Arabian state television confirms
  • Fight broke out between Khashoggi and those who met him consulate, announcement said
  • Gen Ahmed al-Asiri is sacked from intelligence position

19 October, 2018



Saudi Arabia has said the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared after visiting the country’s consulate in Istanbul on 2 October, is dead.

The news, which cited preliminary findings from an official investigation, was announced on state television on Friday. It said a fight broke out between Khashoggi and people who met him in the consulate, leading to the death of the reporter.

Khashoggi was a US permanent resident who wrote for the Washington Post.
It was also announced that Gen Ahmed al-Asiri, an intelligence official linked to the case, had been dismissed. Eighteen Saudi nationals were said to have been arrested.

More details soon …


Saudis Admit Khashoggi Killed At Consulate "In Fist-Fight", King Salman Fires 5 Top Officials

19 October, 2018


Update: The White House has issue a statement:

View image on Twitter
And Democrat Congressman Schiff has piped in, claiming "the Saudi report of Khashoggi is not credible."

*  *  *
Saudi Arabia confirmed tonight that Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at its consulate in Istanbul on 2 October.
In a statement put out on Saudi state television, citing an initial investigation by Saudi prosecutors, SPA said that:
"an argument erupted between him [Khashoggi] and others whom he met in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul leading to a fistfight which led to his death."


The details of what happened at consulate are vague but I understand more details will come out this weekend.
IMPORTANT: I understand from a senior Saudi source that Jamal Khashoggi died from a chokehold during a physical altercation, not a fist fight which was mistranslated by foreign media.
Prosecutors said the investigation was still ongoing and that 18 people, all Saudi nationals, had so far been arrested, SPA reported.

"The Kingdom expresses its deep regret at the painful developments that have taken place and stresses the commitment of the authorities in the Kingdom to bring the facts to the public," the statement said.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has removed a key royal adviser and a senior intelligence official..

King Salman issued an order to remove Saud al-Qahtani, an adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the state-run Ikhbariya television.

The monarch also relieved deputy intelligence chief Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri.


This follows the narrative reported by The New York Times on Thursday that Riyadh is looking to blame Assiri for the purported murder of Khashoggi in an effort to shield Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from the blame.
Saudi King Salman has also ordered the formation of ministerial committee led by crown prince Mohammad bin Salman to restructure the general intelligence agency.
"The removal of two top officials, a cabinet ranking, very powerful and close advisor of MBS and the Deputy Head of Foreign intelligence + 4 other Generals in foreign intelligence (virtually its whole top leadership) cannot be written off as a cover up. This is unprecedented."
"This is not saying "rogue killers" but implicating virtually the whole top leadership of foreign intelligence. They carried out a mission that went sour very quickly and tried to cover it up initially. Bad news travels slowly to the top."

We await President Trump's "very severe consequences."


Saudis: Khashoggi Died in Fist Fight, 18 Arrested - LIVE BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE


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