Saudi Arabia admit journalist Jamal Khashoggi is dead, but say he was killed in a fight

Changed their story...

After weeks of denials, Saudi Arabia has confirmed that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul. Preliminary results of investigations showed the dissident writer died after a fight broke out inside the building shortly after he entered, the official Saudi Press Agency press agency said on Saturday. Initially they had said he left the building unharmed but have now admitted the journalist was killed in their diplomatic post. It's said deputy intelligence chief Ahmad al-Assiri and Saud al-Qahtani, senior aide to Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, were dismissed over the affair.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Public Prosecutor stated the following:

"Preliminary investigations carried out by the Public Prosecution into the disappearance case of the citizen Jamal bin Ahmad Khashoggi revealed that the discussions that took place between him and the persons who met him during his attendance in the Kingdom's consulate in Istanbul led to a quarrel and a brawl with the citizen /Jamal Khashoggi, resulted in his death.

"The Public Prosecutor confirms that its investigations into this case are continuing with the (18) individuals who are all Saudi nationals in preparation for reaching all the facts and declaring them and to hold all those involved in this case accountable and bringing them to justice." Donald Trump has said he found Saudi Arabia’s explanation about the death of Khashoggi credible and said it was an "important first step." “I do, I do,” Trump said when asked if he found the explanation credible. "It’s early, we haven’t finished our review or investigation, but ... I think it’s a very important first step. "I would prefer, if there is going to be some form of sanction or what we may determine to do, if anything ... that we don’t use as retribution canceling $110bn worth of work, which means 600,000 jobs,” he said, referring to a major arms deal between the US and Saudi Arabia.