Jamal Khashoggi: US to release report on Saudi journalist murder

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The US is set to release a report widely expected to implicate Saudi Arabia’s crown prince in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. President Joe Biden has read the intelligence report and is due to speak to the Saudi king soon. Mr Biden wants to “recalibrate” ties with Saudi Arabia, which became closer under President Donald Trump. Khashoggi was brutally killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. The crown prince denied involvement. Saudi authorities say his death and dismemberment was the result of a “rogue operation” by a team of agents sent to return him to the kingdom. Five individuals were given death sentences for the murder by a Saudi court but these were commuted to 20 years in prison last September. The report, which is expected to be released later on Thursday, will say that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved “and likely ordered” Khashoggi’s killing, four US officials told Reuters news agency. They said the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) – the US overseas spy agency – was the main contributor to the report. The Saudi public prosecution and Prince Mohammed insist he did not have any knowledge of the murder but in 2019 he said he took “full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government”.(BBC)…[+]