Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince discuss steps to bring transparency to Khashoggi killing

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman on Wednesday, and the two discussed the steps needed to bring to light all aspects of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a presidential source said.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and a U.S. resident, disappeared three weeks ago after a visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Riyadh, which initially denied knowledge of his whereabouts, has since said he died in a “fistfight”.

It later blamed Khashoggi’s death on a “rogue operation”. The journalist was a critic of the crown prince, the kingdom’s de facto ruler. Erdogan has said Turkey will not let the killers escape justice, not matter how highly placed they were.

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman  said the case of the slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was “painful”, and “justice will prevail”.

The crown prince said all culprits will be punished, and Saudi Arabia and Turkey will work together “to reach results.”