Tag: Saudi Arabia

Trudeau: Canada could scrap Saudi defense deal over rights

MONTREAL, Canada (AFP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada could cancel a multi-billion dollar defense contract with Saudi Arabia following the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in an interview broadcast Sunday. Trudeau, speaking on French-language talk show “Tout Le Monde En Parle” — recorded Thursday, before Riyadh confirmed Khashoggi’s death at its Istanbul consulate — insisted Canada would “always defend human rights, including with Saudi Arabia.” Canadian military equipment sales regulations contain restrictions on […]

G7 calls for ‘transparent’ probe in Khashoggi case

OTTAWA, United States (AFP) — Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven called Tuesday for a “transparent” probe into the disappearance of a Saudi journalist and regime critic, saying they were “very troubled” by the case. Jamal Khashoggi, an insider turned critic of the conservative monarchy, was last seen on October 2 when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to sort out marriage paperwork. “We, the G7 foreign ministers, of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, […]

Top US senators scold Riyadh, vow action over Khashoggi debacle

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — An influential US Senate ally of President Donald Trump pledged Tuesday that Congress would take decisive action against Saudi Arabia over a missing writer, calling for the ouster of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “This guy is a wrecking ball. He had this guy murdered in a consulate in Turkey,” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told “Fox and Friends,” one of the president’s favorite news broadcasts. Graham, discussing the feared killing […]

Turkey searches Saudi consulate as Trump speaks of ‘rogue killers’

by Fulya Ozerkan and Stuart Williams Agence France Presse ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — Turkish police on Monday searched the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for the first time since journalist Jamal Khashoggi went missing, as US President Donald Trump floated the idea that “rogue killers” could be to blame for his disappearance. Khashoggi, a Saudi national and US resident who became increasingly critical of powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has not been seen since he […]

Saudi Arabia vows retaliation if punished over missing critic

by Omar Hasan Agence France Presse DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Saudi Arabia warned Sunday it would retaliate against any sanctions imposed on the oil-rich kingdom over the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as the Riyadh stock market plunged on growing investor jitters. From tech tycoons to media giants, a host of Western companies are now distancing themselves from the Gulf state, imperilling Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s much-hyped economic reform drive. US President […]

Saudi crown prince ordered op against missing journalist: report

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and de facto ruler ordered an operation targeting journalist and US resident Jamal Khashoggi, who has been missing for more than a week, The Washington Post reported Wednesday citing US intelligence intercepts. Khashoggi — a US resident and one of the more outspoken critics of the regime of King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in […]

US pressures Saudi prince over missing journalist

by Sebastian Smith Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Wednesday demanded Saudi Arabia provide answers over the disappearance of respected journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whom Turkish officials suspect was murdered after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The Trump administration sharply upped the pressure, reversing an initially low key response after Washington Post contributor Khashoggi vanished on October 2. Trump said he had talked “more than once” and “at […]

Pompeo calls for ‘transparent’ Saudi probe into journalist’s disappearance

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called for a thorough and open probe by Washington’s ally Saudi Arabia into the disappearance of journalist and Riyadh critic Jamal Khashoggi. “We call on the government of Saudi Arabia to support a thorough investigation of Mr Khashoggi’s disappearance and to be transparent about the results of that investigation,” Pompeo said in a statement, after President Donald Trump voiced concern for Khashoggi, […]

Erdogan asks Riyadh to ‘prove’ journalist left consulate

by Raziye Akkoc with Fulya Ozerkan in Istanbul Agence France Presse ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday asked Saudi officials to prove their claim that missing journalist and Riyadh critic Jamal Khashoggi left the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Erdogan’s comments’ came after media reports said his government sought permission from Saudi authorities to search the consulate premises in Istanbul. Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor, vanished last Tuesday after entering the […]

Saudi says door open to future oil output hike

ALGIERS, Algeria (AFP) — A meeting between oil producing countries on Sunday decided not to alter supply to the global market, after calls by US President Donald Trump for an immediate hike in output to reduce prices. A committee of participating states “expressed its satisfaction regarding the current oil market outlook with an overall healthy balance between supply and demand”, a statement said, at the end of a meeting in Algiers. But Saudi Arabia’s energy […]

Saudi King Salman hosts Pakistan PM on first foreign visit

RIYADH, Sudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi King Salman hosted Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday on his maiden foreign visit since coming to power, state media said, as Islamabad seeks to stave off a financial crisis. Khan also met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and energy minister Khalid al-Falih as he concluded his two-day visit, the Saudi Press Agency said, amid speculation that he would seek economic assistance from the oil-rich ally. “Anyone who comes […]

Qatar Airways files $69 million loss amid Gulf crisis

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Qatar Airways on Tuesday posted a net loss of over $69 million in the year to March 2018, blaming the “illegal blockade” against Doha by a Saudi-led bloc of countries. The tiny Gulf emirate’s national airline said the period had been “the most challenging year in its 20-year history”. Saudi Arabia and its allies broke off diplomatic relations with gas-rich Qatar on June 5, 2017. They closed all land, sea and […]