Several senior Republican senators have broken with Donald Trump over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, declaring that a "smoking saw" in the case pointed to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman being responsible.

Their verdict came after a private briefing on the evidence from Gina Haspel, the CIA director, and increased the prospect of financial consequences for the kingdom, like cutting off US military aid for the Saudi-led war in Yemen.

Mr Graham added: "You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organised by people under the command of MBS. I think he is complicit in the murder of Mr Khashoggi to the highest level possible. I cannot support arm sales to Saudi Arabia as long as he's in charge of this country."