Theresa May ‘strongly urges’ Saudi king to cooperate with investigation into Jamal Khashoggi killing
2 min read
Theresa May has “strongly urged” the king of Saudi Arabia to cooperate with a Turkish investigation in to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The Prime Minister told King Salman in a phone call on Wednesday night that she had “grave concerns” about the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Mr Khashoggi died during a visit to the embassy on 2 October, with the Kingdom admitting that he was killed inside the consulate after two weeks of denials.
Saudi leaders originally denied any knowledge of the killing, before claiming that Mr Khashoggi had died after a fight.
However, claims have emerged that he was murdered and dismembered on the orders of the Saudi government.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said Mrs May had told the Saudi ruler their explanation “lacks credibility”
“The Prime Minister said the current explanation lacks credibility so there remains an urgent need to establish exactly what happened,” the spokesperson said.
"She strongly urged Saudi Arabia to cooperate with the Turkish investigation and to be transparent about the results. It is important that the full facts are established.”
They added: "The Prime Minister also reiterated that all individuals bearing responsibility for the killing of Mr Khashoggi must be properly held to account."
Mrs May also told the Saudi ruler about a clampdown on the UK visas of any Saudi citizens believed to be involved in the death of Mr Khashoggi, Number 10 said.
But the killing of Mr Khashoggi has prompted calls for the Government to go further and halt the UK's multi-billion pound arms exports to Saudi Arabia.
A spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn said on Wednesday: "The steps taken by the British government do not go far enough in response to this action and the wider abuse of human rights by the Saudi dictatorship.”
“It’s clearly unacceptable to be continuing to provide weapons that are being used in the way that they are not only in Yemen but at home in Saudi Arabia."
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