Five Saudi officials face death penalty for Jamal Khashoggi murder

Five Saudi officials face death penalty for murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was dismembered inside kingdom's Istanbul consulate, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was t involved, prosecutor said Thursday.

anuncement follows growing international outcry over killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of Saudi rulers who was last seen entering consulate on October 2 to obtain paperwork for his marri.

Khashoggi died after being drugged and n dismembered, a spokesman for public prosecutor's office said in first Saudi confirmation of how he was killed.

journalist's body parts were n handed over to an nt outside consulate grounds, spokesman said.

He denied Prince Mohammed h any kwledge of murder.

deputy chief of Saudi Arabia's intelligence, General Ahmed al-Assiri, gave order to repatriate Khashoggi -- and " he of negotiating team" that flew to Istanbul consulate h ordered his murder, spokesman said.

After repeated denials, Saudi Arabia finally mitted in mid-October that Khashoggi h been murdered at compound, but blamed it on a "rogue" operation.

prosecutor has requested death penalty for five who "are charged with ordering and committing crime and for appropriate sentences for or indicted individuals," an official statement published by state news ncy SPA said.

It said a total of 21 individuals were in custody in connection with killing, 11 of whom have been indicted with investigations to continue into ors.

Turkey on Wednesday called for an international investigation into murder.

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Ankara has alrey shared voice recordings linked to murder with a number of countries including Saudi Arabia, United States and its Western allies.

Khashoggi's killing has plunged world's top oil exporter into its worst diplomatic crisis since September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on United States, in which most of hijackers were identified as Saudi nationals.

After first insisting Khashoggi left consulate unharmed, Saudi authorities said he was killed in an argument that degenerated into a brawl before finally accepting what Turkey h said virtually from start -- that he was killed in a premeditated hit.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said order to murder Khashoggi came from " highest levels" of Saudi government.

global fallout over murder has tainted im of 33-year-old Prince Mohammed -- de facto ruler and heir apparent -- despite persistent Saudi denials that he was involved.

Khashoggi's murder has also led to increased scrutiny of Saudi Arabia's role in Yemen war, which has pushed impoverished country to brink of famine.

journalist went into self-imposed exile in United States in 2017 after falling out with Prince Mohammed. 

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