Saudi Arabia rejects 'threats' as diplomatic pressure mounts

A security worker looks out from the entrance of the Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo / AP

Saudi Arabia said it rejects "threats" and political pressure over the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi in its consulate in Istanbul, a day after US President Donald Trump said there would be "severe punishment" if Saudi Arabia is found to have killed the Washington Post columnist.

Threatening to impose economic sanctions and repeating "false accusations" will not undermine the country's standing, said the statement on Saudi Arabia's official press agency, which quoted an "official source." The kingdom's Government and people are "as glorious and steadfast as ever," it said.

Saudi Arabia's stock exchange suffered its worst losses in years with shares plunging as much as 7 per cent.

The foreign ministers of the UK, France and Germany today issued a joint statement calling for a "credible investigation" into Khashoggi's fate.

UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and his German and French counterparts said "light must be shed" on Khashoggi's disappearance, and cautioned that the Saudi government was expected "to provide a complete and detailed response".

It has been nearly two weeks since Khashoggi was last seen, stepping through the grey metal gates to the Saudi mission at 1.14 pm local time on October 2 to organise paperwork for his wedding.

Turkey says it believes he was killed inside, telling US officials that it has audio and video recordings from his final moments to prove it. Saudi Arabia has vehemently denied having anything to do with the disappearance.

Turkish officials have expressed frustration at the Saudis' level of cooperation, having still not been allowed access to the consulate building, despite promises.

Three days after Khashoggi disappeared, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in an interview with Bloomberg that Turkish authorities were welcome to search inside the consulate. "We have nothing to hide," he said.

Rubio on Trump’s response on the missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi: “I’m glad the President didn’t tie his hands in terms of exactly what we are going to do. But it needs to be very strong and meaningful, it can’t be symbolic, it can’t be just words” #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/t82s1Y3xIc

— CNN (@CNN) October 14, 2018

In an interview with Lesley Stahl of CBS' 60 Minutes that is airing today, Trump called the journalist's suspected murder "really terrible and disgusting".

"We would be very upset and angry if that were the case," he said of Saudi Arabia's potential responsibility. "As of this moment, they deny it, and they deny it vehemently. Could it be them? Yes."

Later, at the White House, he reiterated that there would be "powerful consequences" for Saudi Arabia.

The stronger line from the Administration follows the release of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who had been held for two years in Turkey and was the focus of a diplomatic dispute between Ankara and Washington.

- additional reporting Daily Telegraph