Donald Trump has joined European leaders in calling for answers after Saudi Arabia admitted dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its Istanbul consulate.

Riyadh announced on Saturday that the outspoken critic of the Saudi regime had died during a “fist-fight” after he entered the building on 2 October.

However, this version of events has been widely disputed and Turkish officials suspect Khashoggi was tortured and then murdered by a team of hit men, before his body was cut up and disposed of.

The US president, who initially said he believed the Saudi account, now says he wants to get to the bottom of what took place inside the consulate.

“We'd like to find out where it is and what happened ... And I think we're inching our way there,” he said, speaking during a trip to Nevada.

Asked if he was happy with Riyadh’s response to the killing – the dismissal of two senior officials and the arrest of 18 people – Mr Trump said more needed to be done.

“No, I am not satisfied until we find the answer,” he said. “But it was a big first step, it was a good first step. But I want to get to the answer.”

The president added he would be seeking talks with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader.

Meanwhile, German chancellor Angela Merkel has described the Saudi explanation of Khashoggi’s death as “inadequate”.

Her foreign minister, Heiko Maas, said on Saturday that Berlin would reassess its arms sales to the kingdom while investigations into the killing were ongoing.

“As long as these investigations continue, as long as we don't know what happened there, there's no basis for reaching positive decisions on arms exports to Saudi Arabia,” he told public broadcaster ARD.

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

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest buyers of German arms.

Asked if German companies should decline attending a business conference in Saudi Arabia next week, Mr Maas said he “certainly wouldn't” be attending any events in Riyadh for the time being.

British International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, US Secretary of State Steve Mnuchin and International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde have all pulled out of the investment conference, as well as the CEO of Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, The New York Times and the Financial Times, among others.

The European Union said the emerging details of Khashoggi's death were “deeply troubling” and that a “continued thorough, credible and transparent investigation” was needed.

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The EU said the continuing investigation should bring “proper clarity on the circumstances of the killing and ensuring full accountability of all those responsible for it.”

Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show, on Sunday, UK Brexit secretary Dominic Raab said the Saudi explanation of the killing was not credible.

Britain says it is considering its “next steps” and those responsible for Khashoggi’s death needed to be held to account.

Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has previously warned there would be “consequences” for British-Saudi relations if it transpired the Washington Post reporter had indeed been murdered.