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Tag: Saudi Arabia

  • Saudi Arabia condemns US Senate ‘interference’

    A bomb strike in Yemen. File photo Image copyright Getty Photographs Image caption Yemen has been devastated through a four-year warfare

    Saudi Arabia has denounced US Senate resolutions to finish US military aid for a Riyadh-led struggle in Yemen and guilty the country’s crown prince for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

    The Saudi overseas ministry described the move as “interference” based on “untrue allegations”.

    Thursday’s US resolutions are in large part symbolic and unlikely to grow to be legislation.

    But they despatched a warning to President Donald Trump approximately US lawmakers’ anger in opposition to Saudi policies.

    Senators rebuke Trump with Yemen vote Jamal Khashoggi: The Tale so far

    What did Saudi Arabia say?

    In a press release carried via the professional Saudi Press Company, the Saudi overseas ministry mentioned: “the kingdom condemns the most recent place of the u.s. Senate.”

    Image copyright Reuters Image caption President Trump has persistently defended US industry and military ties with Saudi Arabia

    The non-binding resolution called upon Mr Trump to take away all American forces undertaking hostilities in Yemen, apart from the ones fighting Islamist extremists.

    The Senate then unanimously handed a answer blaming Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for Washington Publish reporter Jamal Khashoggi’s murder in October, and insisting that the kingdom grasp responsible those responsible.

    The US chose to cease refuelling Saudi war planes closing month, and Thursday’s resolution – if it have been in the end handed into law – would limit that practice from resuming.

    Can this legislation develop into regulation?

    President Trump has vowed to veto the measures, they usually are unlikely at this time to move the house of Representatives, which on Wednesday blocked a vote on the matter.

    But impartial Senator Bernie Sanders, who co-backed the measures, stated he anticipated the resolutions to succeed once Democrats formally take over control of the home in January following their mid-term elections victory.

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    Media captionSenators slam Saudi crown prince as “loopy” and a “wrecking ball”

    The Trump management had argued the bill on Yemen would undercut US strengthen for the Saudi-led coalition in opposition to Iranian-sponsored Houthi rebels.

    White Space officials have emphasized US economic ties to the dominion. Mr Trump’s adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has persisted to cultivate ties with the prince, in step with the united states media.

    Yemen problem: Hudaydah ceasefire behind schedule after clashes Why the combat for Hudaydah issues Why is there a battle in Yemen?

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  • Yemen war: Billions in aid, however where’s it going?

    A Yemeni young child sits next to food rations that a local charity is distributed during Ramadan in 2016. Image copyright AFP Symbol caption The UN and its humanitarian partners lately supply aid to eight million Yemenis each month

    the continuing UN-sponsored peace talks are noticed as a key moment in the seek for an finish to the battle in Yemen.

    They additionally convey a glimmer of desire that the determined scenario throughout the united states can be alleviated.

    Images of seriously malnourished kids, outbreaks of cholera and warnings of whole communities on the brink of starvation have brought the urgency of discovering a diplomatic solution into sharp focus.

    Three-quarters of the Yemeni population is anticipated to be in need of humanitarian support.

    And the longer the conflict continues, the more serious the situation is changing into.

    Greatest donors

    International donors have been praised for raising large amounts of cash for Yemen in reaction to the humanitarian predicament.

    almost all of the $2bn pledged at a UN convention in April has been received or officially devoted.

    the primary pledging convention for Yemen held in 2017 used to be in a similar way as a hit. The UN says 94% of the pledges – $1.1bn (£862m) – had been fulfilled.

    half of the money pledged on this 12 months got here from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These are the 2 largest contributors to the UN’s plan followed by the united states, Kuwait and the uk.

    the money has been given to dozens of UN businesses, global companies and native NGOs. the biggest recipients come with the world Food Programme, United Countries Kid’s Fund, World Health Organization and the UN refugee agency.

    These are huge sums, however this UN-co-ordinated funding plan is solely round 1/2 the whole aid dedicated for Yemen. It’s predicted that during general $4bn has been made to be had this 12 months.

    Much of this additional funding has been supplied via the UAE – an extra $1bn – making it, via a significant margin, the biggest humanitarian donor to Yemen this year.

    The Purple Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates was the largest particular person recipient in 2018.

    So if such large contributions are being devoted to Yemen, why is not assist reaching those wanting it so much?

    The view from inside of Yemen

    Nawal Al-Maghafi, Unique Correspondent, BBC Arabic

    The present prerequisites on the flooring are severely hindering the delivery and distribution of help – far too little is achieving the ones desperately in want.

    on the one hand, the Saudi-led coalition is enforcing a industrial blockade on sea and air routes into the rustic, and hanging restrictions on aid provides.

    a complete of NINETY% of imports are food, fuel, and drugs, and the blockade is successfully choking a country heavily reliant on these goods. Support may be topic to long inspection delays to boot as in some instances being rejected altogether.

    Coalition forces have also bombed bridges linking Yemen’s main port at Hudaydah with Sanaa, the capital town, which has supposed trucks loaded with vital supplies are having to take other routes, adding many hours to adventure times, expanding the associated fee of supply and, in a few cases, making it unimaginable to ship supplies at all to areas in determined need.

    at the different hand, local teams and warlords are also hindering the delivery of assist, and at times there’s outright looting and selling on the black market.

    Houthi rebels have blocked access to besieged towns corresponding to Taiz and arrange checkpoints into the capital, charging further fees to assist agencies, who in turn have less to be had to spend on humanitarian assist.

    Profiteers on either side of the battle are also intentionally growing shortages and spiking prices of positive pieces equivalent to fuel and gas.

    Symbol copyright AFP Symbol caption the price of key food staples has risen significantly in latest months, in keeping with the arena Food Programme

    The UN says humanitarian businesses at the moment are capable of achieve 8 million people a month however the warnings of a catastrophic famine have grown stronger.

    So why is not the situation improving?

    Turning In help in an lively war is difficult – continued combating and air strikes make it dangerous for humanitarian staff to realize get right of entry to to people in need.

    within the months of June and July this yr, 86% of incidents the place UN body of workers have been delayed or denied get right of entry to have been due to administrative restrictions on movement – activities that require permissions from the authorities. So Much of the remaining have been not on time by means of army operations and hostilities impeding humanitarian operations.

    Suze van Meegen, a spokeswoman for the Norwegian Refugee Council, highlighted some of the problems confronted by way of its workforce operating in Yemen.

    “Restrictions at the movement of humanitarian items and group of workers span challenges with security and logistics, as well as complicated, converting bureaucratic impediments, delayed visa approaches for global workforce, and threats to the protection of Yemeni humanitarian workforce – the ones running at largest non-public possibility to assist other folks in need.”

    However, no amount of help can offset the commercial collapse and spiking meals prices that the conflict has produced, says Jeremy Konyndyk, a senior coverage fellow at the Centre for World Building.

    Yemen is dependent upon imports for just about all of its meals. But ongoing preventing and a tightening of the 2-year blockade by Saudi-led coalition forces has ended in a vital drop in the amount of meals getting into the country.

    The coalition, which backs the Yemeni govt, says the blockade has been essential to prevent the smuggling of guns.

    Among Might and August this 12 months meals imports fell by 30%, in step with the UN.

    Famine warning

    As a results of the blockade and a collapsing foreign money, food costs have soared, leaving a desperately poor inhabitants unable to buy food even though it is available in stores and on marketplace stalls.

    a professional-Yemeni-govt attack on Hudaydah port, which provides meals and goods for slightly below two-thirds of Yemen’s population and serves shipments of assist, threatened food provides even additional.

    “If meals imports dry up there is not any way for the aid group to offset a famine,” says Mr Konyndyk.

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  • Lindsey Graham: Saudi Crown Prince ‘complicit’ in Khashoggi homicide

    Video ‘Not a smoking gun – a smoking saw’

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  • Khashoggi murder: CIA chief Haspel ‘to brief Congress’ Khashoggi killing timeline

    Gina Haspel Image copyright Reuters Symbol caption Gina Haspel is reportedly offended over the leak of CIA findings

    the top of the CIA will now brief Congress on Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, US media say.

    Gina Haspel is reportedly check with Senate leaders leaders on Tuesday.

    She was absent from final week’s briefing by means of the secretaries of state and defence, angering some in Congress.

    Khashoggi was once killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. US media have said that the CIA has concluded Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “almost definitely ordered” the killing.

    The Saudis have charged 11 people however deny that the crown prince used to be concerned.

    Symbol copyright Getty Photographs Symbol caption Jamal Khashoggi had gone to Istanbul to acquire a marriage report

    for many years he used to be with reference to the Saudi royal circle of relatives and in addition served as an adviser to the government.

    But he fell out of favour and went into self-imposed exile within the US last year. From there, he wrote a per month column in the Washington Publish through which he criticised the insurance policies of Mohammed bin Salman.

    Jamal Khashoggi in his personal phrases

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    Media captionThe BBC’s Frank Gardner seems to be at what could happen to the person referred to as MBS

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  • Yemen warfare: Wounded Houthis rebels to be evacuated

    Houthi rebels in Sanaa, 20 November 2018 Image copyright AFP Image caption Yemen has been gripped via war seeing that early 2015 while Houthi rebels seized keep watch over

    A UN aircraft is to evacuate wounded Houthi rebels from Yemen in an attempt to construct trust sooner than peace talks, the Saudi-led military coalition fighting the rebels says.

    The 50 rebels are because of be flown from the revolt-held capital Sanaa for treatment in Oman afterward Monday.

    UN-backed talks between the rebels and the Saudi-backed govt are expected to start out within the coming days.

    The warfare has led to the world’s worst humanitarian problem in recent times.

    In nearly 4 years of conflict in Yemen, thousands of individuals have been killed in fighting and hundreds of thousands were pushed to the edge of starvation.

    Will peace talks mean more violence in Yemen? Why struggle for Yemen’s Hudaydah issues Yemen obstacle: Who’s fighting whom?

    “A UN-chartered plane will arrive at Sanaa global airport Monday to evacuate 50 wounded combatants… 3 Yemeni doctors and a UN physician, from Sanaa to Muscat,” a coalition spokesman stated overnight.

    He said the transfer were requested by means of the UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, and have been agreed as a confidence-construction measure ahead of discussions in Sweden.

    Media playback is unsupported in your instrument

    Media captionThe UN says Yemen is on the threshold of the world’s worst famine in 100 years if the struggle continues

    The UN has been looking to revive talks between the government led by way of President Abdrabbuh Mansour and the Iranian-backed Houthis who keep an eye on so much of the north.

    a previous spherical in Geneva collapsed in September whilst the Houthis didn’t show up.

    Why is there a war in Yemen?

    Yemen has been devastated by a warfare that escalated in early 2015, while the Houthis seized regulate of a lot of the west of the country and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to flee abroad.

    Alarmed by way of the upward push of a group they noticed as an Iranian proxy, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and 7 different Arab states intervened in an attempt to repair the federal government.

    There has been well-liked worry for the plight of hundreds of civilians trapped within the rebellion-held port of Hudaydah.

    At least 6,660 civilians had been killed and 10,560 injured within the combating, according to the United International Locations. Heaps more civilians have died from preventable causes, including malnutrition, illness and negative health.

    The World Well Being Organization warned in October that about 10,000 new suspected instances of cholera had been now being reported a week.

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  • Khashoggi homicide: Erdogan demands Saudis extradite suspects Khashoggi killing timeline

    Erdogan at the G20 Symbol copyright Getty Pictures Symbol caption Mr Erdogan stated he was once no longer trying to harm the Saudi royal family

    Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has demanded that Saudi Arabia extradite the suspects in author Jamal Khashoggi’s murder.

    Speaking after the G20 in Argentina, he mentioned Khashoggi had now not featured in the talks and best Canada’s Justin Trudeau had introduced the topic up.

    Saudi Arabia has charged 11 people with the murder, however there may be no suggestion it is ready to ship them to Turkey.

    It denies that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was once concerned in the killing.

    The Saudi journalist was once killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.

    Erdogan’s frustration

    By BBC Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale, Buenos Aires

    President Erdogan continues to be deeply frustrated at Saudi Arabia’s response to the homicide of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the country’s consulate in Istanbul.

    He accused the Saudi authorities of contradictions and lies, of adjusting their story and refusing to share information with the Turkish research. He mentioned Crown Prince Mohammed had given global leaders on the G20 summit an “unbelievable rationalization” of the placement, by way of arguing that Saudi Arabia could not be blamed until the crime used to be confirmed.

    The Turkish president said it was once very important that the suspects detained through the Saudi government should be extradited to stand trial in Turkey.

    What else did Erdogan say?

    He brought that the murder had been a check for the entire international, however insisted he didn’t want to break the Saudi royal circle of relatives.

    He said fixing the killing could be within the Saudi royal family’s interests.

    Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Jamal Khashoggi had gone to Istanbul to acquire a marriage report

    for decades he used to be with reference to the Saudi royal circle of relatives and likewise served as an adviser to the government.

    But he fell out of favour and went into self-imposed exile within the US ultimate year. From there, he wrote a per 30 days column in the Washington Publish during which he criticised the insurance policies of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

    Jamal Khashoggi in his personal words

    In his first column for the newspaper, Khashoggi said he feared being arrested in an obvious crackdown on dissent overseen by way of the prince since.

    In his last column, he criticised Saudi involvement in the Yemen warfare.

    Media playback is unsupported on your instrument

    Media captionThe BBC’s Frank Gardner seems to be at what may happen to the man referred to as MBS

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  • Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancee on writer’s death in Saudi consulate

    Video ‘We didn’t say any goodbyes’

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  • Jamal Khashoggi: All you wish to have to grasp approximately Saudi journalist’s demise

    Symbol copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption The journalist’s fiancée Hatice Cengiz waited outside for hours

    Regardless Of this, he gave Ms Cengiz two cell phones and informed her to name an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan if he did not come again out.

    She in the end waited for more than 10 hours out of doors the consulate and returned the following morning when Khashoggi had nonetheless not reappeared.

    What does Saudi Arabia say?

    For more than two weeks Saudi Arabia constantly denied any wisdom of Khashoggi’s fate.

    Prince Mohammed advised Bloomberg News that the journalist had left the consulate “after a couple of minutes or one hour”.

    “Now We Have nothing to cover,” he added.

    Prince Mohammed’s brother and the Saudi ambassador to the united states, Prince Khaled bin Salman, claimed all stories about his disappearance or loss of life had been “utterly false and baseless”.

    Who’s Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman? Did Apple Watch document Khashoggi killing? Why Saudi Arabia issues to the West

    But in the early hours of 20 October, state television said the journalist had if truth be told died in the consulate after a fight.

    It later stated that Khashoggi had been murdered in a “rogue operation” and vowed to punish “those responsible”.

    A Saudi reputable informed Reuters information agency on the time that Khashoggi had died in a chokehold after resisting makes an attempt to return him to Saudi Arabia. His frame was then rolled in a rug and given to an area “co-operator” to be disposed of. A Saudi operative then reportedly donned his clothes and left the premises.

    The government introduced the arrest of 18 Saudi nationals and dismissal of two senior officials – deputy intelligence chief Ahmad al-Assiri and Saud al-Qahtani, a senior aide to Prince Mohammed.

    Symbol copyright AFP Symbol caption The Saudi consulate first of all mentioned Khashoggi had left after finishing paperwork

    Saudi King Salman additionally ordered the formation of a ministerial committee, headed by the crown prince, to restructure the intelligence services in the wake of the initial inquiry.

    Two days later, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir described the killing as “murder”, telling Fox Information “a major mistake” have been made. He denied that the crown prince had ordered the killing.

    On 25 October, Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor used to be quoted in state media as announcing Khashoggi’s homicide was “premeditated”.

    The prosecutor’s account came after investigations through a joint Saudi-Turkish task pressure, broadcaster al-Ekhbariya said.

    Then, at a information convention on 15 November, the Saudi public prosecutor mentioned that Khashoggi was given a lethal injection after a fight and his body used to be dismembered throughout the consulate after his loss of life.

    The frame parts were then passed over to an area “collaborator” outdoor the grounds, he added.

    Eleven people have been charged over the journalist’s dying and the prosecutor is looking for the death penalty for 5 of them, despite the fact that none of those formally charged have been known.

    What does Turkey say came about to him?

    President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says there is evidence that the “savage” killing was once planned days in advance.

    He says 3 teams of 15 Saudi nationals arrived in Istanbul before the murder and that the gang had removed the protection cameras and surveillance pictures from the consulate building prior to Khashoggi’s arrival.

    On 31 October, Turkey gave its first authentic statement on how it believes Khashoggi was once killed, announcing he used to be instantly strangled and his body used to be dismembered.

    Unnamed Turkish officers up to now advised the media he had been tortured first.

    The stories said Turkey had audio and video recordings of the killing, without pronouncing how they were got. President Erdogan has now not mentioned them.

    Symbol copyright AFP Symbol caption Investigators were looking Belgrad forest for the body

    Turkey’s pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak quotes resources as pronouncing that the Saudi consul basic can also be heard on one tape caution the alleged sellers: “do this outside. you’re going to get me in bother.”

    “Close up for those who wish to are living while you go back to Saudi Arabia,” a person can reportedly be heard telling the diplomat on another tape.

    On 10 November, Mr Erdogan mentioned Turkey had given the recordings to Saudi Arabia, the us, the uk, Germany and France.

    “They listened to the conversations which happened here, they recognize”, he stated.

    Canada’s High Minister Justin Trudeau later mentioned intelligence retailers in his u . s . a . had heard the recordings. No different united states has to this point admitted this.

    who’re the alleged Saudi marketers?

    one in all the men, Maher Mutreb, served as a colonel in Saudi intelligence and was primarily based at the us of a’s embassy in London, the BBC understands.

    Four of the men have links to the Saudi crown prince and any other is a senior determine in the u . s .’s internal ministry, reports say.

    Turkish officers consider the men are Saudi officials and intelligence officials, an allegation that looks to be supported by means of open-source information that is freely available.

    They say the gang introduced a bone saw into the country and that considered one of its individuals used to be a physician who specialised in submit-mortems.

    Image copyright AFP

    Nine of the marketers reportedly arrived on a private jet from the Saudi capital, Riyadh, at approximately 03:15 on the day Khashoggi visited the consulate.

    the remainder of the suspected retailers are pronounced to have arrived later that day on a 2nd personal jet or on industrial flights. the gang then checked into resorts near the consulate building.

    CCTV footage broadcast via Turkish TELEVISION appears to show teams of Saudi males entering the rustic by the use of Istanbul airport and then checking into the resorts.

    Who’s who in alleged Saudi ‘hit squad’

    It additionally displays automobiles riding up to the consulate an hour before Khashoggi’s consult with, including black vans idea to be principal to inquiries.

    one of the trucks is suggested to have taken some of the boys from the consulate to the nearby place of abode of the Saudi consul approximately two hours after Khashoggi’s arrival.

    the gang then left the rustic on the private jets that flew to Riyadh via Cairo and Dubai, according to investigators.

    How did 2 October spread?

    This Is the timeline of events, consistent with Turkish media.

    Image copyright Getty Images

    03:28: The Primary private jet wearing suspected Saudi dealers arrives at Istanbul airport.

    05:05: the gang is observed checking into two motels near the Saudi consulate building.

    12:13: A Couple Of diplomatic cars are filmed arriving on the consulate, allegedly wearing some of the Saudi sellers.

    13:14: Khashoggi enters the construction.

    15:08: Vehicles depart the consulate and are filmed arriving at the local Saudi consul’s residence.

    17:15: A 2d non-public jet wearing a bunch of suspected Saudi officials lands in Istanbul.

    17:33: Khashoggi’s fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, is noticed on CCTV waiting out of doors the consulate.

    18:20: certainly one of the private jets departs from Istanbul airport. the other plane leaves at 21:00.

    How is the Turkish research progressing?

    Turkish police were allowed to go into the Saudi consulate on 15 October, in a while after Saudi officials and a group of cleaners had been noticed entering the construction.

    Turkish police have now searched the consulate and the local Saudi consul’s place of dwelling, and have taken samples away for DNA checking out.

    The police have additionally searched the nearby Belgrad wooded area and farmland in Yalova as it is thought a minimum of automobiles from the Saudi consulate headed in that path on the day of the suspected killing.

    More than a dozen Turkish nationals employed on the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, together with receptionists, technicians, accountants and a driver, had been wondered by prosecutors.

    King Salman and President Erdogan have agreed to replace information and co-function in the investigation.

    However there’s nonetheless no sign of the body.

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  • Angela Merkel: Arms sales to Saudis are on hold

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday her country is not ready to export arms to Saudi Arabia until the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is properly investigated.

    ISTANBUL (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday her country is not ready to export arms to Saudi Arabia until the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is properly investigated.

    Speaking in Prague through a translator after meeting her Czech counterpart Andrej Babis, Merkel said it’s necessary to clarify the background of the crime that took place in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

    She said Germany has made it clear that until then, “we won’t deliver any arms to Saudi Arabia.”

    Merkel also again said that Saudi Arabia has to ensure access for humanitarian aid to get into Yemen, which has been ravaged by a 3½-year war between the Saudi-led alliance and Shite rebels.

  • Saudi economic forum opens but many absent over Khashoggi

    A high-profile economic forum in Saudi Arabia began on Tuesday in Riyadh, the kingdom’s first major event on the world stage since the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istan

    RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — A high-profile economic forum in Saudi Arabia began on Tuesday in Riyadh, the kingdom’s first major event on the world stage since the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul earlier this month.

    The Future Investment Initiative forum is the brainchild of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aimed at drawing more foreign investment into the kingdom and to help create desperately needed jobs for its youthful population.

    Prince Mohammed was not immediately at the forum when it started.

    The forum last year proved to be a glitzy affair that drew more international business attention to the kingdom. This year’s event meanwhile has seen many top business leaders and officials drop out over Khashoggi’s Oct. 2 slaying.

    “As we gather here in Riyadh this morning, it is natural that our thoughts tend to focus on recent events surrounding the death of Jamal Khashoggi — a writer, a journalist and a Saudi journalist known to many of us,” said Lubna Olayan, a Saudi businesswoman moderating the forum’s first panel. “May he rest in peace.”

    She added that such “terrible acts reported in recent weeks are alien to our culture and DNA.”

    The killing of Khashoggi has marred the prince’s standing, especially amid Turkish media reports a member of his entourage on trips abroad allegedly took part in the slaying and made phone calls to the prince’s office.

    Saudi Arabia, which for weeks maintained Khashoggi had left the consulate, on Saturday acknowledged he had been killed there in a “fistfight.” Turkish media reports and officials maintain that a 15-member Saudi team flew to Istanbul on Oct. 2, knowing Khashoggi would enter the consulate to get a document he needed to get married. Once he was inside, the Saudis accosted Khashoggi, cut off his fingers, killed and dismembered the 59-year-old writer, according to Turkish media reports.

    The killing has also thrown into question whether Western executives will continue business as usual with the crown prince, who as King Salman’s favored son is the second most powerful man in the kingdom.

    Last year, the investment forum grabbed headlines when Prince Mohammed wowed the crowd of global business titans with pledges to lead the ultraconservative kingdom toward “moderate Islam.” He also announced plans to build a $500 billion futuristic city in the desert.

    He spoke on stage alongside Stephen Schwarzman of U.S. private equity firm Blackstone and Masayoshi Son of Japan’s technology conglomerate SoftBank.

    Schwarzman is among those who’ve backed out of attending this year. Others include U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who met with Prince Mohammed separately before the forum, according to Saudi state television.

    Among its many investments domestically and abroad, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which the crown prince oversees, has invested $20 billion in a U.S.-focused infrastructure fund with Blackstone.

    The Public Investment Fund has also invested $3.5 billion in ride-sharing firm Uber, whose CEO also backed out of attending this year’s forum.

    Just days after last year’s forum, the emboldened prince launched a sweeping shakedown of Saudi Arabia’s wealthiest businessmen and top princes for alleged corruption, transforming the same Ritz-Carlton hotel that had earlier hosted the investment forum into a prison for the country’s elite.

    The crackdown — a surprise move by the prince, who’s upended the kingdom’s reputation for slow, cautions reforms — rattled investors.

    Alongside moves like allowing cinemas to open and lifting a ban on women driving, the crown prince has led a stifling crackdown on dissent. Dozens of critics and activists have been detained, including several women and their supporters who had long pushed for the right to drive.