President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized Saudi Arabia, saying that they orchestrated a "cover-up" of the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi but declaring that he will leave to Congress the possible US response in the matter.

"They had a very bad original concept. It was carried out poorly, and the cover-up was one of the worst in the history of cover-ups," said Trump in the Oval Office in response to a reporter's question about how the killing could have occurred, Efe reporte.

"Whoever thought of that idea, I think is in big trouble. And they should be in big trouble," the president said, referring to the presumed plan to murder Khashoggi.

Trump also said that there must be some kind of sanction imposed on those responsible for what occurred, although he would leave it to Congress to decide exactly what that should entail.

The president reiterated, however, that he is not inclined to restrict arms sales to Riyadh because "Russia, China and France" will quickly take advantage of the opportunity to sell their own weapons to Riyadh if the US refuses to do so.

The president did not say if he shared the conclusion of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who on Tuesday called Khashoggi's killing "premeditated."

Khashoggi, a journalist who had gone into self-exile in Washington and recently had been a critic of Riyadh, disappeared on Oct. 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to pick up some documents for his planned wedding.

After a series of contradictory explanations, last Friday the Saudi government admitted that Khashoggi was killed in a "fistfight" inside the consulate and ordered the arrests of 18 suspects.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced at a press conference on Tuesday that the US will review the visas of the agents and officials implicated in Khashoggi's death and will evaluate the possibility of imposing individual sanctions on those responsible.

Pompeo said that his department is working with the US Treasury to study the possibility of sanctioning the people allegedly responsible for the death within the framework of the 2016 Global Magnitsky Act, which allows the US government to punish those implicated in human rights violations anywhere in the world.

However, Pompeo said that the US will continue maintaining a close association with Saudi Arabia, although he emphasized that he and Trump were "not happy with this situation."

"We're making very clear that the United States does not tolerate this ruthless action to silence Khashoggi, a journalist, through violence," he said, adding - however - that Washington will continue pursuing its strategic objectives with Saudi Arabia.</s>WASHINGTON – In a remarkable shift, President Donald Trump blasted Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for its handling of the death of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and his administration announced the first penalties against some of those involved.

“The cover-up was the worst in the history of cover-ups," Trump told reporters at the White House.

Trump's comments marked another reversal from his initial statement that he found the Saudi government's explanation of Khashoggi's death to be credible.

Just moments after Trump spoke, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the administration had identified some of the Saudis involved in Khashoggi's death, "including those in the intelligence services, the Royal Court, the foreign ministry, and other Saudi ministries."

Pompeo said the administration would revoke their visas and was reviewing possible sanctions against those individuals. He did not name any of the alleged culprits or say how many U.S. visas would be in jeopardy.

"We’re making very clear that the United States does not tolerate this kind of ruthless action to silence Mr. Khashoggi, a journalist, through violence," Pompeo said. "Neither the president nor I am happy with this situation."

Pompeo said the administration would take additional steps once it had more information on who was involved.

"These penalties will not be the last word on this matter from the United States," he said. "We will continue to do our own fact-finding" and make sure any consequences are based on "real data."

Saudi authorities claimed last Friday that Jamal Khashoggi died during a “brawl” inside the country’s consulate in Istanbul, a sharp reversal from previous assertions by the regime that the dissident journalist had left the diplomatic facility unharmed on Oct. 2. Turkish officials have said Khashoggi was brutally murdered inside the consulate in a pre-meditated operation.

Khashoggi went into the consulate for some routine paperwork. He was living in the U.S. self-imposed exile amid fears for his safety after he became increasingly critical of the Saudi government.

In an unusual move, CIA Director Gina Haspel was dispatched to Turkey earlier this week amid that country's ongoing investigation into Khashoggi's death. The CIA declined to comment on Haspel's trip, and neither Pompeo nor Trump addressed her role in the case.

But Trump said Tuesday he would be meeting Wednesday with U.S. officials returning from overseas with more information.

In previous comments on Khasoggi's death, Trump and Pompeo both touted the long-standing U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia, seeming to cast their remarks about the U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist in terms that would not alienate the Saudi ruling family.

Tuesday's change in tone came on the heels of a blistering speech by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said his government had amassed evidence that clearly showed The Washington Post columnist was killed in a premeditated and "savage" murder that involved at least three separate teams of Saudi intelligence agents, including a military general.

Erdogan was speaking to parliament as part of his pledge to unveil the "naked truth" about a case that has shocked the world and raised suspicions that a Saudi hit squad planned Khashoggi’s killing after he walked into the consulate on Oct. 2, and then attempted to cover it up.

While Trump said he was concerned about Erdogan's comments, he said he still wants all the facts before making a final decision on whether and how to punish the Saudis. He also said he would work with Congress on any response.

“In terms of what we ultimately do … I’m going to leave it up to Congress,” Trump said, adding he hopes a decision will be bipartisan.

“They had a very bad original concept, it was carried out poorly and the cover-up was the worst in the history of cover-ups,” he said. “They had the worst cover-up ever.”

As for the apparent plan to murder Khashoggi, Trump said: "Whoever thought of that idea I think is in big trouble and they should be in big trouble."</s>Donald Trump has described the killing of a Saudi journalist as a botched operation and a “bad original concept” as the US took its first, careful steps towards punishing the Saudis by moving to revoke the visas of the suspects.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Mr Trump said the entire operation was a fiasco.

“They had a very bad original concept,” Mr Trump said. “It was carried out poorly, and the cover-up was one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups. Somebody really messed up, and they had the worst cover-up ever.”

Even in the face of ugly details of Jamal Khashoggi’s slaying, Mr Trump has resisted calls to cut off arms sales to the gulf kingdom and has been reluctant to antagonise the Saudi rulers.

Mr Trump considers the Saudis to be vital allies in his Middle East agenda.

Members of Congress have demanded that sanctions be imposed on Saudi Arabia over the killing of Mr Khashoggi, who lived in self-imposed exile in the US and wrote critically about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The writer, who was a contributor to the Washington Post, vanished October 2nd after entering the Saudi consulate in Turkey, where he went to pick up documents for his marriage to his Turkish fiancee.

Turkish officials say that a Saudi team of 15 men tortured, killed and dismembered the writer and that Saudi officials had planned the killing for days.

On Tuesday the Turkish president said Saudi Arabia must identify those who ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and turn over the suspects for trial.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a sharp rebuttal of Saudi Arabia’s widely-criticised account that the writer for the Washington Post died accidentally in a brawl.

Saudi officials — after weeks of denials — now concede that he died, but they say it happened accidentally in a fight at the consulate.

Addressing ruling party lawmakers in parliament, Mr Erdogan used the word “murder” 15 times to describe Mr Khashoggi’s death.

“It was a total fiasco,” Mr Trump said. “The process was no good. The execution was no good. And the cover-up, if you want to call it that, was certainly no good.”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said a move to revoke visas was just a first step.

Visa records are confidential and Mr Pompeo was not more specific about who the revocations would affect, but the State Department later said 21 “Saudi suspects” would have visas revoked or would be declared ineligible to enter the US.

“These penalties will not be the last word on this matter,” Mr Pompeo told reporters at the State Department.

The administration “will continue to hold those responsible accountable. We’re making very clear that the United States does not tolerate this kind of ruthless action to silence Mr Khashoggi, a journalist, with violence,” he said. “Neither the president or I am happy with this situation.”

Still, Mr Pompeo stressed the strategic importance of the US-Saudi relationship.

“We continue to view as achievable the twin imperative of protecting America and holding accountable those responsible for the killing of Mr. Khashoggi,” Mr Pompeo said. – AP</s>WASHINGTON – In a remarkable shift, President Donald Trump blasted Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for its handling of the death of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and his administration announced the first penalties against some of those involved.

“The cover-up was the worst in the history of cover-ups," Trump told reporters at the White House.

Trump's comments marked another reversal from his initial statement that he found the Saudi government's explanation of Khashoggi's death to be credible.

Just moments after Trump spoke, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the administration had identified some of the Saudis involved in Khashoggi's death, "including those in the intelligence services, the Royal Court, the foreign ministry, and other Saudi ministries."

Pompeo said the administration would revoke their visas and was reviewing possible sanctions against those individuals. He did not name any of the alleged culprits or say how many U.S. visas would be in jeopardy.

"We’re making very clear that the United States does not tolerate this kind of ruthless action to silence Mr. Khashoggi, a journalist, through violence," Pompeo said. "Neither the president nor I am happy with this situation."

Pompeo said the administration would take additional steps once it had more information on who was involved.

"These penalties will not be the last word on this matter from the United States," he said. "We will continue to do our own fact-finding" and make sure any consequences are based on "real data."

Saudi authorities claimed last Friday that Jamal Khashoggi died during a “brawl” inside the country’s consulate in Istanbul, a sharp reversal from previous assertions by the regime that the dissident journalist had left the diplomatic facility unharmed on Oct. 2. Turkish officials have said Khashoggi was brutally murdered inside the consulate in a pre-meditated operation.

Khashoggi went into the consulate for some routine paperwork. He was living in the U.S. self-imposed exile amid fears for his safety after he became increasingly critical of the Saudi government.

In an unusual move, CIA Director Gina Haspel was dispatched to Turkey earlier this week amid that country's ongoing investigation into Khashoggi's death. The CIA declined to comment on Haspel's trip, and neither Pompeo nor Trump addressed her role in the case.

But Trump said Tuesday he would be meeting Wednesday with U.S. officials returning from overseas with more information.

In previous comments on Khasoggi's death, Trump and Pompeo both touted the long-standing U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia, seeming to cast their remarks about the U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist in terms that would not alienate the Saudi ruling family.

Tuesday's change in tone came on the heels of a blistering speech by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said his government had amassed evidence that clearly showed The Washington Post columnist was killed in a premeditated and "savage" murder that involved at least three separate teams of Saudi intelligence agents, including a military general.

Erdogan was speaking to parliament as part of his pledge to unveil the "naked truth" about a case that has shocked the world and raised suspicions that a Saudi hit squad planned Khashoggi’s killing after he walked into the consulate on Oct. 2, and then attempted to cover it up.

While Trump said he was concerned about Erdogan's comments, he said he still wants all the facts before making a final decision on whether and how to punish the Saudis. He also said he would work with Congress on any response.

“In terms of what we ultimately do … I’m going to leave it up to Congress,” Trump said, adding he hopes a decision will be bipartisan.

“They had a very bad original concept, it was carried out poorly and the cover-up was the worst in the history of cover-ups,” he said. “They had the worst cover-up ever.”

As for the apparent plan to murder Khashoggi, Trump said: "Whoever thought of that idea I think is in big trouble and they should be in big trouble."</s>Washington, Oct 24 (IANS) President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized Saudi Arabia, saying that they orchestrated a “cover-up” of the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi but declaring that he will leave to Congress the possible US response in the matter.

“They had a very bad original concept. It was carried out poorly, and the cover-up was one of the worst in the history of cover-ups,” said Trump in the Oval Office in response to a reporter’s question about how the killing could have occurred, Efe reporte.

“Whoever thought of that idea, I think is in big trouble. And they should be in big trouble,” the president said, referring to the presumed plan to murder Khashoggi.

Trump also said that there must be some kind of sanction imposed on those responsible for what occurred, although he would leave it to Congress to decide exactly what that should entail.

The president reiterated, however, that he is not inclined to restrict arms sales to Riyadh because “Russia, China and France” will quickly take advantage of the opportunity to sell their own weapons to Riyadh if the US refuses to do so.

The president did not say if he shared the conclusion of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who on Tuesday called Khashoggi’s killing “premeditated.”

Khashoggi, a journalist who had gone into self-exile in Washington and recently had been a critic of Riyadh, disappeared on Oct. 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to pick up some documents for his planned wedding.

After a series of contradictory explanations, last Friday the Saudi government admitted that Khashoggi was killed in a “fistfight” inside the consulate and ordered the arrests of 18 suspects.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced at a press conference on Tuesday that the US will review the visas of the agents and officials implicated in Khashoggi’s death and will evaluate the possibility of imposing individual sanctions on those responsible.

Pompeo said that his department is working with the US Treasury to study the possibility of sanctioning the people allegedly responsible for the death within the framework of the 2016 Global Magnitsky Act, which allows the US government to punish those implicated in human rights violations anywhere in the world.

However, Pompeo said that the US will continue maintaining a close association with Saudi Arabia, although he emphasized that he and Trump were “not happy with this situation.”

“We’re making very clear that the United States does not tolerate this ruthless action to silence Khashoggi, a journalist, through violence,” he said, adding – however – that Washington will continue pursuing its strategic objectives with Saudi Arabia.</s>WASHINGTON (AP) - The Trump administration revoked the visas Tuesday of some Saudi officials implicated in the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi in its first punitive measure against its longtime Middle East partner, as President Donald Trump denounced the kingdom for one of the "worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups."

Shortly after Trump made the comment, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the administration was moving to revoke the visas of Saudi government and intelligence agents suspected of involvement in the death of Khashoggi.

Visa records are confidential and Pompeo was not more specific about who the revocations would affect, but the State Department later said 21 "Saudi suspects" would have visas revoked or would be declared ineligible to enter the U.S.

"These penalties will not be the last word on this matter," Pompeo told reporters at the State Department. The administration "will continue to hold those responsible accountable. We're making very clear that the United States does not tolerate this kind of ruthless action to silence Mr. Khashoggi, a journalist, with violence," he said. "Neither the president or I am happy with this situation."

Members of Congress have demanded that sanctions be imposed on Saudi Arabia over the killing of Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and Washington Post contributor who disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 2. Turkish authorities say Khashoggi was the victim of a pre-planned assassination operation while Saudi officials have conceded that he died but that his killing occurred accidentally while they were trying to convince him to return home.

Trump has resisted calls thus far to cut off arms sales to the kingdom and Pompeo stressed the strategic importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship.

"We continue to view as achievable the twin imperative of protecting America and holding accountable those responsible for the killing of Mr. Khashoggi," Pompeo said. "We want to make sure that everyone understands that the United States doesn't believe that this killing of Jamal Khashoggi was anything other than a horrific act and we hope that we can work together both with Congress and our allies to hold those responsible accountable."

In his remarks to reporters at the White House, Trump derided the initial Saudi denial of any wrongdoing and efforts to conceal what happened to Khashoggi.

"They had a very bad original concept," Trump said. "It was carried out poorly and the cover-up was one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups. Somebody really messed up and they had the worst cover-up ever."

Saudi Arabia has claimed Khashoggi, who lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. and wrote critically about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, died accidentally in a brawl at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

But Turkish officials say a 15-men team tortured, killed and dismembered the writer and say Saudi officials had planned the killing for days.</s>WASHINGTON – The Trump administration revoked the visas Tuesday of some Saudi officials implicated in the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi in its first punitive measure against its longtime Middle East partner, as President Donald Trump denounced the kingdom for one of the “worst coverups in the history of coverups.”

Shortly after Trump made the comment, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the administration was moving to revoke the visas of Saudi government and intelligence agents suspected of involvement in the death of Khashoggi.

Visa records are confidential and Pompeo was not more specific about who the revocations would affect, but the State Department later said 21 “Saudi suspects” would have visas revoked or would be declared ineligible to enter the U.S.

“These penalties will not be the last word on this matter,” Pompeo told reporters at the State Department. The administration “will continue to hold those responsible accountable. We’re making very clear that the United States does not tolerate this kind of ruthless action to silence Mr. Khashoggi, a journalist, with violence,” he said. “Neither the president or I am happy with this situation.”

Members of Congress have demanded that sanctions be imposed on Saudi Arabia over the killing of Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and Washington Post contributor who disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 2. Turkish authorities say Khashoggi was the victim of a pre-planned assassination operation while Saudi officials have conceded that he died but that his killing occurred accidentally while they were trying to convince him to return home.

Trump has resisted calls thus far to cut off arms sales to the kingdom and Pompeo stressed the strategic importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship.

“We continue to view as achievable the twin imperative of protecting America and holding accountable those responsible for the killing of Mr. Khashoggi,” Pompeo said. “We want to make sure that everyone understands that the United States doesn’t believe that this killing of Jamal Khashoggi was anything other than a horrific act and we hope that we can work together both with Congress and our allies to hold those responsible accountable.”

In his remarks to reporters at the White House, Trump derided the initial Saudi denial of any wrongdoing and efforts to conceal what happened to Khashoggi.

“They had a very bad original concept,” Trump said. “It was carried out poorly and the coverup was one of the worst coverups in the history of coverups. Somebody really messed up and they had the worst coverup ever.”

Saudi Arabia has claimed Khashoggi, who lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. and wrote critically about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, died accidentally in a brawl at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

But Turkish officials say a 15-men team tortured, killed and dismembered the writer and say Saudi officials had planned the killing for days.</s>WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the Trump administration is revoking the visas of some Saudi officials implicated in the death of writer Jamal Khashoggi.

Pompeo announced the step at a State Department news conference Tuesday. Vice President Mike Pence said earlier that Khashoggi’s death at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, “will not go without an American response.”

The visa revocations are the first punitive measures taken by the administration against the Saudis since Khashoggi disappeared after entering the consulate on Oct. 2.

Visa records are considered confidential and Pompeo did not say which or how many Saudi officials would have their visas revoked. Saudi authorities have detained 18 people in connection with Khashoggi’s death, which officials say was accidental despite Turkish allegations that Khashoggi was intentionally killed.</s>The United States said Tuesday it was revoking visas of Saudi officials involved in the "brutal murder" of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in its first major action against the longtime ally as global outrage escalated.

The visa curbs came as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Khashoggi's killing inside the Saudis' Istanbul consulate had been meticulously planned, in a speech that overshadowed a long-planned investment forum in Riyadh.

Faced with mounting calls for tough measures by US lawmakers across the political spectrum, the State Department said it had identified 21 Saudis whose visas would either be revoked or who would be ineligible for future visas.

"These penalties will not be the last word on this matter from the United States. We will continue to explore additional measures to hold those responsible accountable," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters.

"We are making very clear that the United States does not tolerate this kind of action to silence Mr. Khashoggi, a journalist, through violence," he said.

The top US diplomat said the Saudi suspects came from "the intelligence services, the royal court, the foreign ministry and other Saudi ministries."

Pompeo said the United States was also looking into whether to take action under a law named after Sergei Magnitsky, the anti-corruption accountant who died in Russian custody, that would impose financial sanctions on individuals behind Khashoggi's death.

The initial US action against the Saudis came three weeks after Khashoggi, self-exiled to suburban Washington, vanished in the consulate and following contradictory statements by President Donald Trump, who has ruled out major steps such as cutting arms sales to the major defense partner.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the Saudis had a "very bad original concept" in killing the 59-year-old Saudi insider-turned-critic.

"It was carried out poorly and the cover-up was one of the worst in the history of cover-ups," Trump said.

Vice President Mike Pence, in an appearance at The Washington Post, where Khashoggi was a contributing opinion writer, denounced the "brutal murder" and said: "The world is watching. The American people want answers and we will demand that those answers are forthcoming."

Pence said Erdogan's account -- the most substantive remarks on the case by the Turkish leader -- "flies in the face" of the Saudis' earlier assertions.

Saudi Arabia -- whose ambitious crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has been amassing power -- initially claimed Khashoggi left freely after visiting the consulate, where he was completing paperwork for his upcoming marriage.

But as pressure grew, Saudi state media changed the story and said Khashoggi died when an argument descended into a fistfight, an account that was swiftly denounced overseas even if Trump initially said he found it credible.

Erdogan said that a 15-person team came from Riyadh to kill Khashoggi, including by carrying out reconnaissance outside Istanbul and deactivating security cameras at the consulate.

He said 18 suspects detained by Saudi Arabia should be extradited to Istanbul to face trial over the killing and called for an investigation into those with "even the slightest link" to the case.

But the Turkish leader did not mention some of the most striking claims that appeared in the Turkish press in recent days, notably that Khashoggi's body was cut up into multiple pieces, and that there is an audio recording of the murder.

Erdogan did confirm that a Saudi official played the role of body double for Khashoggi, wearing the journalist's clothes upon leaving the consulate to pretend to be the dead man.

The whereabouts of Khashoggi's corpse remain unknown. Turkish police were searching an abandoned car belonging to the Saudi consulate in an underground car park in the Sultangazi district of Istanbul.

Jana Jabbour, a professor at Sciences Po university in Paris, said the fact Erdogan did not opt for sharper rhetoric against Riyadh suggested the two nations were talking behind the scenes.

"Erdogan's very moderate speech shows that a deal has been reached," she told AFP.

The Group of Seven industrial nations said in a joint statement that the killing left "many questions unanswered." Denmark also summoned the Saudi ambassador over the case.

The murder has shone the spotlight on the Saudi crown prince, who was credited with a reform drive in the kingdom -- including giving women the right to drive -- but is now accused of having ordering Khashoggi's killing, a charge denied by Riyadh.

A key investment summit, dubbed "Davos in the desert," was overshadowed by big-name cancellations as it kicked off in Riyadh.

Dozens of executives, including from banks Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan and ride-hailing app Uber pulled out of the three-day Future Investment Initiative.

Saudi organizers sought to portray it was business as usual, announcing 12 "mega deals" worth more than $50 billion in oil, gas, infrastructure and other sectors.

But Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih acknowledged "we are going through a crisis."</s>WASHINGTON/ANKARA (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Saudi authorities staged the “worst cover-up ever” in the killing of prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi this month, as the United States vowed to revoke the visas of some of those believed to be responsible.

Trump spoke hours after Turkey’s president, Tayyip Erdogan, dismissed Saudi efforts to blame Khashoggi’s death on rogue operatives. Erdogan urged Riyadh to search “from top to bottom” to uncover those behind Khashoggi’s death in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, an incident that has sparked global outrage and strained relations between Riyadh and Washington.

For Saudi Arabia’s allies, the question will be whether they believe that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has painted himself as a reformer, has any culpability.

Trump said the killing and subsequent cover-up by Saudi Arabia were “a total fiasco.”

“There should have never been an execution or a cover-up, because it should have never happened,” Trump told reporters. He said he had spoken on Monday with the crown prince who denied having anything to do with Khashoggi’s killing.

Earlier, Trump said the Khashoggi matter was handled badly by Saudi officials.

“Bad deal, should have never been thought of. Somebody really messed up. And they had the worst cover-up ever,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

Khashoggi, a critic of the crown prince, was a U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist.

Trump’s comments in recent days have ranged from threatening Saudi Arabia with “very severe” consequences and mentioning possible economic sanctions, to more conciliatory remarks highlighting the country’s role as a U.S. ally against Iran and Islamist militants, as well as a major purchaser of U.S. arms.

Trump did not give his views on who was ultimately responsible. But Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States had identified some of the Saudi government and security officials it believed were involved in Khashoggi’s murder and would take appropriate actions including revoking U.S. visas.

The U.S. State Department said 21 Saudis would have their visas revoked or be made ineligible for U.S. visas. Another official said the vast majority of the group had U.S. visas.

“As we continue to develop our understanding of the individuals that were responsible for this, not only those who executed it but those who were connected to it, the world should know that we intend to hold those individuals accountable when we develop this fact set,” Pompeo told reporters.

Pompeo also said the State Department was looking into whether sanctions could be applicable for those found to be involved.

“These penalties will not be the last word on this matter from the United States,” Pompeo said, although he emphasized as have other senior U.S. officials, the importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship. “Neither the president nor I are happy with this situation.”

The Saudi Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment on the U.S. measures.

As the crisis unfolded over the past three weeks, Saudi Arabia changed its tune on Khashoggi. Riyadh initially denied knowledge of Khashoggi’s fate before saying on Saturday he was killed in a fight in the consulate, an account met with scepticism from several Western governments, straining their relations with the world’s biggest oil exporter.

Saudi Arabia has detained 18 people and dismissed five senior government officials as part of an investigation into Khashoggi’s death. One of those fired includes Saud al-Qahtani, a top aide who ran social media for Prince Mohammed. According to two intelligence sources, Qahtani ran Khashoggi’s killing by giving orders over Skype.

Turkish security sources say that when Khashoggi entered the consulate, he was seized by 15 Saudi intelligence operatives who had flown in on two jets just hours before.

Erdogan on Tuesday stopped short of mentioning the crown prince who some U.S. lawmakers suspect ordered the killing.

“The Saudi administration has taken an important step by admitting to the murder. From now on, we expect them to uncover all those responsible for this matter from top to bottom and make them face the necessary punishments,” Erdogan said in a speech in parliament.

“From the person who gave the order, to the person who carried it out, they must all be brought to account,” Turkey’s president said.

Turkish sources have said that authorities have an audio recording purportedly documenting the killing. Erdogan made no reference to any audio recording.

A Saudi Cabinet meeting chaired by King Salman said Riyadh would hold to account those responsible for the killing and those who failed in their duties, whoever they were.

Turkish investigators searched a Saudi consulate vehicle in Istanbul that contained two suitcases and other items, according to broadcaster CNN Turk. It was not clear what was in the suitcases.

Trump said he would work with the U.S. Congress to determine the U.S. response to the Khashoggi matter.

“In terms of what we ultimately do, I’m going to leave it very much - in conjunction with me - up to Congress,” Trump said, adding he would like a bipartisan recommendation.

CIA Director Gina Haspel, in Turkey to investigate the death of Khashoggi, has sought to hear the purported audio recording of his torture and murder, four sources familiar with her mission told Reuters on Tuesday.

A host of Western executives and governments have pulled out of a high-profile Saudi investment summit that started on Tuesday because of the Khashoggi affair.

Erdogan said the killing was planned from when Khashoggi, 59, first went to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Sept. 28 to obtain documents necessary for his marriage. He was told he would need to return later to collect the documents.

A day before Khashoggi’s death, agents arrived from overseas and began to scout locations, including the Belgrad Forest near Istanbul and the city of Yalova to its south, Erdogan said. Police have searched both areas for evidence of Khashoggi’s remains, Reuters has reported.

On the day Khashoggi arrived for his appointment and was later killed, the hard disk in the consulate’s camera system was removed, Erdogan said.

“Covering up a savage murder like this will only hurt the human conscience. We expect the same sensitivity from all parties, primarily the Saudi Arabian leadership,” he said.

“We have strong signs that the murder was the result of a planned operation, not a spontaneous development.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announces that the United States will revoke visas of Saudi Arabia officials behind the killing of Khashoggi.