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Saudi Arabia's Consul General in Istanbul was sacked today and placed under investigation over the alleged torture and murder of a dissident journalist.

Mohammad al-Otaibi, who fled Turkey after the alleged killing of Jamal Khashoggi, has been relieved of his post and will face an investigation, according to an official government statement.

Mr al-Otaibi is said to have been recorded in a seven-minute audio clip during the alleged torture of Mr Khashoggi, saying: "Do this outside; you’re going to get me in trouble."

The development came as world leaders intensified pressure on Riyadh over Mr Khashoggi's disappearance, as a “frequent companion” of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman was named in reports as a possible suspect.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and his G7 counterparts said they were “very troubled” by the case of the missing dissident journalist and insisted those responsible must be held to account.

The audio recording allegedly captures the Washington Post columnist’s screams as he was dismembered.

Turkish investigators today entered the Saudi consul's Istanbul residence as part of the investigation

Saudi national Mr Khashoggi, who was critical of the crown prince, is feared to have been killed while visiting the Gulf kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul 15 days ago.

Saudi Arabia is a key ally of the West and Donald Trump last night said it was being treated as “guilty until proven innocent” — likening claims that senior Saudi figures were involved to the sex assault allegations against new Supreme Court judge Brett Kavanaugh.

But today G7 statement said: “We, the G7 foreign ministers, of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, affirm our commitment to defending freedom of expression and protection of a free press.

“We remain very troubled by the disappearance of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“Those bearing responsibility for his disappearance must be held to account. We encourage Turkish-Saudi collaboration and look forward to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia conducting a thorough, credible, transparent, and prompt investigation, as announced.”

Britain’s relationship with Riyadh came under fresh scrutiny, with a report claiming the RAF has been training Saudi air force crew over the past four years as part of a secret deal.

Mr Khashoggi, who lived in the US, was last seen when he entered the consulate in Istanbul on October 2. He had gone to finalise paperwork so he could marry Turkish fiancée Hatice Cengiz. She was outside and says she did not see him leave.

Turkish officials have said police searching the consulate found evidence Mr Khashoggi was killed there. Saudi Arabia has denied allegations he was murdered and his body was cut up.

The New York Times today reported Turkey had identified former London diplomat Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb as a possible suspect.

The man is said to have travelled extensively with the 33-year-old Saudi crown prince.

The NYT claimed as many as nine of the 15 suspects identified by Turkish authorities worked for Saudi Arabia’s security services, military or government ministries. Three of those were allegedly linked to the crown prince’s security team.

The newspaper also claimed a forensic doctor who specialises in autopsies was at the consulate in Turkey when Mr Khashoggi went in. The Saudis have not commented on the NYT’s claims.

Meanwhile gruesome new details of Mr Khashoggi’s alleged killing inside the consulate emerged in reports claiming his screams could be heard throughout the consulate as he was tortured and killed.

Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak claimed Saudi Consul General Mohammed al-Otaibi could be heard on an unreleased audio tape, telling the journalist’s alleged torturers: “Do this outside; you’re going to get me in trouble.”

The newspaper said one of the torturers replied: “Shut up if you want to live when you return to (Saudi) Arabia.”

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo today held talks in Ankara with president Recep Tayyip Erdogan — who said that some areas of the consulate in Istanbul had been freshly painted before Turkish officials were allowed to investigate.

Yesterday Mr Pompeo met King Salman, the crown prince and Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir. Mr Pompeo said they promised to carry out a “complete and transparent investigation” and “hold anyone connected to any wrongdoing ... accountable”.