'Saudis assured me of accountability for Khashoggi murder' Pompeo says

World 15:54 14.01.2019

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday that Saudi leaders assured him everyone responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi would be held accountable, as Riyadh tries to resolve its biggest political crisis in a generation.

Pompeo told reporters he had also raised a number of human rights issues with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including women’s rights activists who have been detained for months and some allegedly tortured.

Khashoggi, a longtime royal insider who had become a critic of the crown prince, was killed in October in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate, prompting a global outcry including Treasury sanctions on 17 individuals and a U.S. Senate resolution blaming Prince Mohammed.

A CIA assessment has blamed the crown prince for ordering the killing, which Saudi officials deny. At least 21 Saudis have been detained in the case, with five facing the death penalty. Five officials were also fired, including a senior royal advisor.

“They both acknowledged that accountability needed to take place. They talked about the process that is occurring inside their country, both the investigative process and the judicial process that is taking place,” Pompeo said.

“They reiterated their commitment to achieve the objective, the expectations we set for them.”

The outcry over Khashoggi’s murder has strained ties with Western allies and focused attention on Saudi Arabia’s domestic crackdown on dissent and the nearly four-year-old war in Yemen.

During meetings that lasted about 80 minutes total, Pompeo said he had spoken with Saudi leaders about women’s rights activists detained last summer and accused of treason.

“Their commitment was that the lawful judicial process would take place and they would do so quickly, and that they would continue down that path,” he told reporters.

On Yemen, Pompeo and Prince Mohammed agreed on the need for continued de-escalation and adherence to agreements made last month at talks in Sweden to end the civil war between the Saudi-backed government and the Iranian-aligned Houthis.

“We talked about the fact that work done in Sweden on Yemen was good but we need both sides to honor those commitments. To date, the Iranian-backed Houthis have chosen not to do that,” he said.

Pompeo, whose earlier stops included Cairo, Abu Dhabi and Doha, will cut short the rest of his Middle East trip to attend a family funeral, a State Department spokesman said. He will return home after meetings in Oman instead of traveling on to Kuwait.

Diaspora activists voiced their solidarity with Azerbaijan - VİDEO

News line

Diaspora activists voiced their solidarity with Azerbaijan - VİDEO
Diaspora activists voiced their solidarity with Azerbaijan - VİDEO
17:20 26.04.2024
President Ilham Aliyev holds meeting with Foreign Minister of Germany in Berlin
17:11 26.04.2024
President Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijan will continue to be an important partner for Europe for many years to come
17:01 26.04.2024
President Ilham Aliyev: COP29 will not be an arena of confrontation
16:49 26.04.2024
Norway provides Ukraine with military assistance worth 850M euros
Norway provides Ukraine with military assistance worth 850M euros
16:33 26.04.2024
US Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Discusses Expectations for COP29 and Cooperation with Azerbaijan - INTERVIEW
16:22 26.04.2024
Working Group Evaluates Demining Efforts in Aghdam - PHOTOS
16:00 26.04.2024
President Ilham Aliyev: We highly value ongoing peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia
15:29 26.04.2024
President Ilham Aliyev and Chancellor Scholz making press statements - VİDEO
15:12 26.04.2024
Ambassador: Honest Baku-Yerevan negotiations may lead to positive results
14:58 26.04.2024
Armenia forced millions of people to leave their homes - Lawyer Talmon
14:51 26.04.2024
President Ilham Aliyev’s expanded meeting with Olaf Scholz commences in Berlin
14:17 26.04.2024
President Ilham Aliyev holds one-on-one meeting with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz
14:00 26.04.2024
Azerbaijani President: ‘Our green agenda started to materialize prior to being awarded COP29’
13:42 26.04.2024
Germany's Scholz says new approach to combating climate change needed
13:29 26.04.2024
"Are NATO Forces Planning an Attack on Russia?" - Insightful Commentary from British Politician
13:14 26.04.2024
Tensions Rise as Chad Considers Expelling US Forces: US influence in Africa tumbles
Tensions Rise as Chad Considers Expelling US Forces: US influence in Africa tumbles
13:00 26.04.2024
President Ilham Aliyev: As the host country of COP29, Azerbaijan is in active phase of preparation
12:45 26.04.2024
Ilham Aliyev participates in High Level Segment of 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin - VİDEO
12:32 26.04.2024
Details of the expected peace agreement are explained by a political scientist
12:20 26.04.2024
The anniversary of the so-called "Armenian genocide" was held in Iran - PHOTOS
12:09 26.04.2024
Blinken expected in Israel on Tuesday to discuss Rafah operation, hostage deal - Media
Blinken expected in Israel on Tuesday to discuss Rafah operation, hostage deal - Media
11:54 26.04.2024
COP29 delegation meets Spanish minister for ecological transition
11:53 26.04.2024
Russian-Turkish Monitoring Centre in Azerbaijan's Aghdam ceased its activity - VİDEO
11:40 26.04.2024
ISW: If Russia captures Chasov Yar, this will open the way for it to the “defense belt”
11:22 26.04.2024
Chinese FM warns about possible risk of further expansion of Ukraine war
10:50 26.04.2024
Zelensky: 'NATO countries are afraid of Russia'
10:38 26.04.2024
Azerbaijani police discovered explosive devices in Khojavand
10:23 26.04.2024
Greece refuses to provide Ukraine with Patriot systems
10:12 26.04.2024
Price of Azerbaijan oil drops
Price of Azerbaijan oil drops
10:00 26.04.2024
Azerbaijani minister mulls preparations for COP29 with Annalena Baerbock
09:50 26.04.2024
US expands its sanctions list on Iran
US expands its sanctions list on Iran
09:38 26.04.2024
Azerbaijan relocates another 39 families to Fuzuli city
09:26 26.04.2024
Media: US Embassy in Russia is testing water quality to avoid being poisoned
09:00 26.04.2024
Armenian lobby plans provocative rally during Azerbaijani President's Germany visit
00:35 26.04.2024
Xavi agrees to remain Barcelona coach
Xavi agrees to remain Barcelona coach
22:00 25.04.2024
Plane of Azerbaijani President leaves for Berlin from Fuzuli Airport for first time
21:00 25.04.2024
20 border posts installed on Azerbaijan-Armenia border
20:00 25.04.2024
This could be the end of the world economy - Predictions from English politologue
19:25 25.04.2024
Anti-Azerbaijan and Türkiye banners raised in Ukraine on Anniversary of So-Called Armenian Genocide - VİDEO
Anti-Azerbaijan and Türkiye banners raised in Ukraine on Anniversary of So-Called Armenian Genocide - VİDEO
18:50 25.04.2024
Hamısı