Published 20:32 IST, December 15th 2018
"I know how to cut well," Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan quoted a murderer of Jamal Khashoggi, according to the tapes
After Turkey swore to "not give up" to dig up the truth of journalist, Jamal Khashoggi's murder, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has disclosed darker details of the horrific murder.
After Turkey swore to "not give up" to dig up the truth of journalist, Jamal Khashoggi's murder, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has disclosed darker details of the horrific murder.
He alleged the involvement of a senior Saudi military official in the murder. According to the Turkish leader, the recordings said-
"It is a disaster because this man (Khashoggi) has been drugged," said the Saudi Intelligence Chief.
"I know how to cut well," the other man responded.
President of Turkey in a speech at the Jerusalem Platform event in Istanbul on December 14 told the audience, according to media reports
Earlier this month, the Turkish Foreign minister said Turkey was in talks over a possible United Nations investigation into the October 2 murder, which has provoked global outrage.
The 59-year-old Khashoggi, a palace insider turned critic of the Saudi regime, was strangled and his body cut into pieces, later allegedly dissolved in acid by a 15-strong Saudi hit squad, according to Turkish officials. Through media leaks, the Turkish leadership has been alleging that the Washington Post columnist was beaten, drugged and cut into pieces with a bone saw.
CNN even reported this week that the audio recordings of the journalist's last words were him saying, "I can't breathe" followed by noises of his body being dismembered.
According to media reports citing a source who has reviewed the transcript of the audio recordings translated from Arabic, identified a man, as Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, a former Saudi diplomat and intelligence official, made at least three phone calls to someone who was apparently of a high leadership in the Kingdom.
"Tell yours, the thing is done, it's done," Mutreb allegedly said as Khashoggi struggled for his last breath.
The US Senate gave its unopposed backing on Thursday to a resolution holding the kingdom's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, responsible for the murder after the Central Intelligence Agency reportedly concluded he gave the orders.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the killing was ordered at the highest levels of the Saudi government, although he has repeatedly absolved the ageing King Salman.
(with inputs from PTI)
Updated 20:53 IST, December 15th 2018