Khashoggi murder: Turkish leader blames Saudi state directly Published duration 2 November 2018 Related Topics Killing of Jamal Khashoggi

media caption How has the death of Jamal Khashoggi impacted the war in Yemen?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has for the first time accused the Saudi government directly of murdering journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

"We know that the order to kill Khashoggi came from the highest levels of the Saudi government," he wrote in an article in the Washington Post.

Khashoggi was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October.

Turkish investigators believe the journalist, who was living in exile, was strangled when he visited to collect documents for his forthcoming marriage to a Turkish citizen.

image copyright AFP image caption Questions persist about what went on behind the door of the Saudi consulate on 2 October

The murder, initially covered up by Saudi officials, caused a diplomatic crisis between Saudi Arabia and its allies.

A memorial service marking four weeks since the journalist's death has been held in Washington.

What did Erdogan say?

"We know that the perpetrators are among the 18 suspects detained in Saudi Arabia," he wrote in the Washington Post, where Khashoggi had written a column.

"We also know that those individuals came to carry out their orders: Kill Khashoggi and leave. Finally, we know that the order to kill Khashoggi came from the highest levels of the Saudi government."

Writing that the murder had involved a "lot more than a group of security officials", President Erdogan called for "the puppet masters behind Khashoggi's killing" to be exposed.

media caption Jamal Khashoggi's fiancee: "We didn't say any goodbyes"

"No one should dare to commit such acts on the soil of a Nato ally again," he said. "If anyone chooses to ignore that warning, they will face severe consequences."

He complained that no action had been taken against the Saudi consul general, who has left Turkey, and accused the Saudi public prosecutor of failing to co-operate with the investigation "and answer even simple questions".

What do we know about the murder?

The Saudis have admitted Khashoggi died at the consulate, while denying they know what happened to his body.

A Turkish prosecutor said earlier this week that investigators believe the journalist was immediately strangled on entering the consulate, in a murder planned in advance.

His body was then dismembered and destroyed "again, in line with advance plans", prosecutor Irfan Fidan said.

Who was Khashoggi?

Once an adviser to the Saudi royal family, Khashoggi fell out of favour with the government last year and went into self-imposed exile.

image copyright AFP image caption Amnesty International activists put up a fake sign reading "Khashoggi Street" outside the Saudi embassy in London

He had become a sharp critic of the Saudi government and of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been pioneering an ambitious economic and social reform programme in the country.

Speaking at the memorial service in Washington, Daniel Balson from Amnesty International said the Saudi government needed to be held to account over the journalist's death.

"For too long, they've operated under the impression that impunity is for them and that the rules are for others," he said.