Erdogan calls for Khashoggi murder suspects’ trial in Turkey

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. Erdogan announced details of his country’s investigation into the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, as skepticism intensified about Saudi Arabia’s account that he died accidentally in its consulate in Istanbul.(AP Photo/Ali Unal)

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s president has urged Saudi Arabia to reveal who ordered the “savage murder” of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul, and said the 18 Saudis suspected of carrying it out should be tried in Turkish courts.

Addressing lawmakers of his ruling party in Parliament on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said all those responsible for the killing must be punished regardless of rank — from the person who ordered his death to those who carried out the killing.

He asked: “Where is the body of Jamal Khashoggi?”

For the first time, Erdogan also confirmed that a body double of Khashoggi was used as a decoy after he was killed.

Erdogan’s speech came as skepticism intensified about Saudi Arabia’s account that he died accidentally in its consulate in Istanbul.

Turkey’s president also said Saudi officials started planning to murder Khashoggi days before his death in Saudi Arabia’s Istanbul consulate.

According to Erdogan, Saudi officials began plotting against Khashoggi in late September, days ahead of his disappearance after he entered the consulate on October 2.

Erdogan’s comments contradicted Saudi accounts that Khashoggi died accidentally in a “fistfight” in the consulate. /kga