Joint inspection planned at Saudi consulate: Turkey

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Joint inspection planned at Saudi consulate: Turkey
A security personnel outside the entrance of the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul. Photo: AP

Istanbul - Such a search would extraordinary, as embassies and consulates are technically foreign soil and must be protected by host nations.

By AP

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Published: Mon 15 Oct 2018, 2:59 PM

Last updated: Mon 15 Oct 2018, 10:41 PM

Turkey and Saudi Arabia are expected to conduct a joint inspection on Monday of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, nearly two weeks after the disappearance of 'Washington Post' columnist Jamal Khashoggi, Turkish authorities said.

The announcement from an official at Turkey's foreign ministry comes as international concern continues to grow over the writer who vanished on a visit to the consulate on October 2. American lawmakers have threatened tough action against the Saudis, and Germany, France and Britain jointly called for a "credible investigation" into Khashoggi's disappearance.




The foreign ministry official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations. Officials in Saudi Arabia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Such a search would be an extraordinary development, as embassies and consulates under the Vienna Convention are technically foreign soil and must be protected by host nations.

US President Donald Trump has said Saudi Arabia could face "severe punishment" if it was proven it was involved in Khashoggi's disappearance. On Sunday, Saudi Arabia warned that if it "receives any action, it will respond with greater action, and that the Kingdom's economy has an influential and vital role in the global economy".

"The Kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it, whether by threatening to impose economic sanctions, using political pressures or repeating false accusations," said the statement, carried by Saudi Press Agency.


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