The official Saudi statements on the fate of journalist Jamal Khashoggi have changed several times since he mysteriously disappeared after entering his country's consulate in Istanbul earlier this month.
The latest announcement yesterday, declaring that Khashoggi had died in a "fistfight" with officials that came to see him there, increased criticism over the Saudis' handling of the case and concern over the kingdom's possible complicity in the killing of the prominent Washington Post columnist.
Here is a look at the Saudi narrative regarding Khashoggi, as it developed.
Oct. 2: Khashoggi enters the Saudi consulate in a leafy neighbourhood in Istanbul at 1.14 pm local time. He had left his mobile phones with his Turkish fiancée, who waited for him outside the consulate. She calls friends hours later to tell them that Khashoggi never emerged from the consulate.
Oct. 3: In a wide-ranging interview, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman tells Bloomberg he understands that Khashoggi left the consulate after "a few minutes or one hour." Bin Salman says his kingdom's authorities are in talks with the Turkish Government to determine what happen. He insists Khashoggi is no longer inside the consulate and says Turkish authorities are welcome to search the diplomatic mission. "We have nothing to hide," says the crown prince.
