The United States government has begun releasing records pertaining to the brutal killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi after a judge ruled they were of "considerable public importance".

The move comes after public interest law centre, Open Society Justice Initiative, filed a lawsuit last month for documents to be unsealed.

A US district judge ruled federal agencies must produce thousands of pages monthly on Khashoggi's murder.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October.

"In the months since, Khashoggi's disappearance, and the facts or allegations regarding his killing in Saudi custody, have continued to be a matter of intense interest among the public, legislators, other policymakers and journalists," the judge said.

A UN special rapporteur in a report found "credible evidence" that linked Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince to the killing of Khashoggi.

Riyadh has hit back against claims that Prince Mohammed bears responsibility in the murder of Khashoggi, who was killed in what Saudi authorities have described as a rogue operation.

US President Donald Trump has called the killing "horrible" but said that Saudi Arabia has "been a terrific ally."

He has also suggested he is satisfied with steps the country is taking to prosecute some of those involved in the death.

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