CIA Director, Gina Haspel heard an audio recording of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during her visit to Turkey, two sources told Reuters on Thursday.
According to the Reuters, representatives of the CIA and Turkish intelligence have declined to comment on Haspel’s review of the recording.
Saudi Arabia first denied any involvement in Khashoggi’s disappearance on Oct. 2 but a Saudi official eventually attributed his death at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to a botched attempt to return him to the kingdom.
Turkey has dismissed Saudi efforts to blame rogue operatives and urged the kingdom to search “top to bottom” for those responsible for the killing, which has stirred international outrage and condemnation.
Haspel, who arrived in Turkey on Monday, listened to an audio recording of Khashoggi’s killing during her visit, according to the sources.
In a latest development, Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey had no intention of taking Khashoggi’s case to an international court.
He made the comments during a news conference with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, adding that Turkey had shared information with some parties who sought additional information.
He told reporters that Turkey had no intention of taking the case to an international court but would share information if an international inquiry were launched.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the Washington Post columnist and critic of the Saudi leadership was killed in a planned, “savage killing” and has demanded Riyadh punish those responsible, no matter how highly placed.
Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vowed on Wednesday that the killers would be brought to justice, in his first public comments on the matter.
According to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Thursday reviewed the case of Khashoggi with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May in separate phone calls.
During the phone calls, the two European leaders demanded Saudi Arabia clarify the full truth of the death of Khashoggi and punish those found guilty, SPA said.
Macron and May also expressed hope for all facts to be revealed transparently and clearly by the Saudi-Turkish joint investigations.
Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that Khashoggi died in a “brawl” in the consulate, without explaining the cause of his death.
Saudi King Salman later ordered the re-organisation of the intelligence authorities and sacked senior intelligence officials. (Reuters/NAN)
