Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said he takes “full responsibility” for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi – but denies allegations that he ordered the killing.
In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, the crown prince said that Mr Khashoggi’s killing was a “heinous crime” and a “mistake” by agents of the Saudi government.
“But I take full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government,” Prince Mohammed said.
Asked if he ordered the murder of Mr Khashoggi, who had criticized him in columns for The Washington Post, Prince Mohammed replied: “Absolutely not.”
Mr Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Turkey on 2 October 2018 to collect a document that he needed to marry his Turkish fiancee, and never emerged. His body has never been found.
A UN report asserted Saudi Arabia bore responsibility for the killing and that the crown prince’s possible role should be investigated.
In Washington, Congress has said it believes the crown prince is “responsible for the murder”.
Saudi Arabia has long insisted the crown prince had no involvement in an operation that included agents who reported directly to him.
Prince Mohammed told the US broadcaster: “Some think that I should know what 3 million people working for the Saudi government do daily. It’s impossible that the 3 million would send their daily reports to the leader or the second-highest person in the Saudi government. “
In an interview on Thursday in New York, Mr Khashoggi’s fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, told The Associated Press that responsibility for Mr Khashoggi’s killing” was not limited to the perpetrators “and said she wanted Prince Mohammed to tell her: “Why was Jamal killed? Where is his body? What was the motive for this murder?”
Saudi Arabia has charged 11 people over Mr Khashoggi’s murder and put them on trial, which has been held in secret. As of yet, no one has been convicted.
In the CBS interview, Prince Mohammed also addressed the 14 September missile and drone attack on Saudi oil facilities.
While Yemen’s Iranian-allied Houthi rebels claimed the assault, Saudi Arabia has said it was “unquestionably sponsored by Iran”.
“There is no strategic goal,” Prince Mohammed said of the attack. “Only a fool would attack 5% of global supplies. The only strategic goal is to prove that they are stupid and that is what they did.”
He urged “strong and firm action to deter Iran “.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings