G7 foreign ministers condemn Khashoggi killing, call for protecting journalists

Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G-7) member nations on Tuesday condemned the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and called for Saudi Arabia to ensure similar acts “never happen again.”

“The confirmation of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi’s death is a first step toward full transparency and accountability. However, the explanations offered leave many questions unanswered,” the foreign ministers of the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the European Union said in a statement.

The officials called for Saudi Arabia to conduct a “thorough, credible, transparent, and prompt investigation” with Turkish authorities, and to hold accountable those responsible for Khashoggi’s death.

{mosads}”The circumstances of Mr. Khashoggi’s death reaffirm the need to protect journalists and freedom of expression around the world,” the officials added.

The statement did not specify any actions the G-7 might take in response to Khashoggi’s killing.

His death has been the subject of international outcry since he was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

Saudi leadership has offered various explanations for what happened to the Washington Post columnist, first denying any knowledge of his whereabouts, then saying the U.S. resident died in a “fight” at the consulate. The Saudis arrested 18 people in connection with the incident.

President Trump on Monday said he was “not satisfied” with the Saudi explanation for what happened, but hours later indicated he believed Khashoggi’s died as a result of a “plot gone awry,” as Saudi leadership has suggested.

The president has in recent weeks accepted each Saudi defense of what happened to Khashoggi, while simultaneously calling for “severe” consequences for those responsible.

U.S. lawmakers have dismissed the latest Saudi explanation as not credible, and vowed to impose harsh sanctions on Saudi Arabia. Senators have expressed increasing certainty that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played some role in Khashoggi’s death.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared the findings Tuesday of his country’s investigation into the matter, arguing that it was carefully planned by the Saudis and carried out in a “savage way.”