Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in a “rogue operation” at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has said.

Adel al-Jubeir told Fox News those responsible for “this huge and grave mistake” would be held accountable.

He insisted Saudi officials did not know the whereabouts of Mr Khashoggi’s remains.

On Friday, Saudi Arabia finally admitted its agents had killed Mr Khashoggi after he entered the consulate on 2 October.

It claimed he had died in a”fistfight”, that 18 Saudi suspects were in custody and intelligence officials had been fired.

But the kingdom denies its crown prince or king were involved.

Mr al-Jubeir echoed Donald Trump’s warnings about rushing to judgement against Saudi leaders, saying ”there is the presumption of innocence until proven guilty,” and that some have “turned that upside down”.

Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul Show all 12 1 /12 Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul According to local media reports, Saudi consul Mohammad al-Otaibi left Turkey on 16 October. A Turkish prosecutor on 15 October has entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to investigate the disappearance of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an inspection that was being carried out jointly with a Saudi team AFP/Getty Images Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul Turkish forensic police officers work on the roof of the residence of the Saudi consul in Istanbul EPA Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul Khashoggi went missing on 2 October when he entered the Saudi consulate to pick up paperwork AP Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 17: Turkish police arrive to investigate the Saudi Arabian consulate general residence as investigations continue into the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi on October 17, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkish police first entered and searched the Saudi Arabian consulate on October 15 amid a growing international backlash about the disappearance. Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and critic of the Saudi regime, has been missing since visiting the Saudi Arabian consulate on October 2. Turkish officials have said they believe he was killed inside. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX*** Chris McGrath Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul Turkish forensic and investigation officers arrive at Saudi Consul's residence on October 17, 2018 in Istanbul. - Saudi Arabia's consul to Istanbul Mohammed al-Otaibion on October 16, 2018 left the Turkish city bound for Riyadh on a scheduled flight, reports said, as Turkey prepared to search his residence in the probe into the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP)OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images OZAN KOSE AFP/Getty Images Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul Turkish police arrive to investigate the Saudi Arabian consulate general residence Getty Images Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul Turkish forensic police search for evidence at the garden of the Saudi Arabia's Consul General Mohammad al-Otaibi AFP/Getty Images Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul Turkish police search the rooftop of the Saudi Arabian consulate general residence Getty Images Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul Turkish police arrive at the residence of the Saudi consul General Mohammed al-Otaibi to conduct a search AP Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul Turkish police officers gather as they prepare to enter Saudi Arabia consul's residence, in Istanbul, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. America's top diplomat is in Turkey, where a strongly pro-government newspaper has published a gruesome recounting of the alleged slaying of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Petros Giannakouris AP Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul Turkish forensic police search for evidence at the garden of the Saudi Arabia's Consul General Mohammad al-Otaibi AFP/Getty Images Khashoggi disappearance: Forensic police investigate Saudi consul ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 17: Turkish police search the rooftop of the Saudi Arabian consulate general residence as investigations continue into the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi on October 17, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkish police first entered and searched the Saudi Arabian consulate on October 15 amid a growing international backlash about the disappearance. Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and critic of the Saudi regime, has been missing since visiting the Saudi Arabian consulate on October 2. Turkish officials have said they believe he was killed inside. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) Chris McGrath Getty Images

He extended his condolences to the family of the journalist, saying: ”We can feel their pain and we wish this didn’t happen and I wish that this could have been avoided.”

It comes as the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and King Salman called Mr Khashoggi’s son to express their condolences, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

Mr Trump has said he will talk to the crown prince ”very soon” before deciding what to do next.

He said he planned to consult with Congress to devise a response. “We’ll have an answer by probably Tuesday or so,” he said.

Mike Pompeo: the Saudis should be provided “a few more days” to complete their investigation into the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi

Mr Trump has repeatedly said over the last week that he opposes any effort to impede more than $100bn (£76.4bn) in US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but that he would consider sanctions on the kingdom.

Asked if he believed the Saudi explanation that Mr Khashoggi was killed during a “fistfight” with more than a dozen agents was credible on Friday, he said: “I do. I do.”

But on Saturday, in an interview with The Washington Post, Mr Trump said: ”Obviously there’s been deception and there’s been lies.”

Britain, Germany and France have issued a joint statement saying “nothing can justify” the killing of Mr Khashoggi.

In a statement released on Sunday, the governments said there was an “urgent need for clarification of exactly what happened” and said attacks on journalists are unacceptable and “of utmost concern to our three nations”.