Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been accused of sanctioning Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, reportedly told the White House the journalist was a “dangerous islamist”.
The royal made the claim after Khashoggi disappeared but before Riyadh admitted he was killed, according to reports published in the Washington Post, where Khashoggi worked, and the New York Times on Thursday.
The allegation surfaced as US State Secretary Mike Pompeo said in a radio interview that a “handful more weeks” were required for Washington to gather evidence before sanctions against Riyadh could be considered over the columnist’s death.