Turkey shares recordings of Khashoggi's murder with the US, UK; Claims his body was dissolved in acid

Recordings, that could possibly expose the murder of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabia embassy in Turkey, have been shared with the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, as per AFP reports. 

Ever since the spine-chilling murder of the Washington Post columnist on October 2 inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul came to light, the Kingdom has stated erratic claims. Initially, Riyadh remained firm on the stand that Khashoggi had left the embassy unscathed, now after fluctuating narratives overtime has finally admitted that he was murdered inside. However, they still continue to deny the involvement of the Royal family. 

READ| Jamal Khashoggi's Son Leaves Saudi Arabia, The US Praises Decision

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has asserted that the murder occurred on order from the highest levels of leadership in the Saudi government. While the case is co-investigated by Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Erdoğan has accused the Kingdom of stalling the inquiry by cold-shouldering the authorities.

The recent ascending reports on the Khashoggi-case have also revealed that the Turkish police have decided to terminate the search for the journalist’s body.  Reports from Ankara claims that traces of acid has been retrieved from the drains at the Saudi Consul general’s resident in Istanbul, where the body is known to be dissolved using chemicals.

"We now see that it wasn't just cut up, they got rid of the body by dissolving it," Yasin Aktay, an advisor to Erdogan and official in Turkey's ruling party, told the Hurriyet newspaper on Friday, November 2.

"They aimed to ensure no sign of the body was left. This is what is understood from the prosecutor's statement, said Aktay, who was close to the journalist.

Saudi Arabia has faced a torrent of international condemnations over the killing of the royal insider-turned-critic. The murder has placed a strain on the decades-old alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia and tarnished the image of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler.

The Kingdom has arrested 18 suspects, who are known to be prosecuted in the Kingdom. Although Turkey has demanded the suspects should be expelled. 

READ| Benjamin Netanyahu Condemns Khashoggi's Murder But Backs Stability In Saudi Arabia

The case that found itself on global headlines, whistle-blower Edward Snowden has added more inputs to it when he said that an Israeli spyware was used to target the murdered journalist.    

Addressing a video conference in Tel Aviv the whistle-blower, refuged in Moscow, claimed that a software made by a cyber intelligence firm in Israel and was used by Saudi Arabia to track Khashoggi, which led up to his murder  

(Inputs from ANI)