'Khashoggi's killers will be prosecuted in Saudi'

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Saturday asserted that the killers of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi will be prosecuted in the kingdom country, adding that Saudi law enforcement will continue to work with their Turkish counterparts in investigating the senior scribe's murder.

Lambasting at the global outcry over Khashoggi's mysterious death, Jubeir called the issue as "hysterical", underlining that all probes being conducted will take time as the facts have to be properly investigated.

"The issue has become fairly hysterical," he said, adding that the Saudi government has made it "very clear that those responsible will be held responsible", Al Jazeera reported.

The Saudi foreign minister's comments came after Turkey called for the extradition of 18 men suspected of murdering Khashoggi.

US Defense Secretary James Mattis said that the Saudi journalist's killing "undermines regional stability" and Washington will continue to pursue further action in regard to the case.

"With our collective interests in peace and unwavering respect for human rights in mind, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a diplomatic facility must concern us all," Mattis said.

Mattis added that the US' respect for the Saudi people is "undiminished" but the respect "must come with transparency and trust".

On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked Saudi Arabia to disclose Khashoggi's body and demanded the extradition of the 18 suspects involved in his murder.

On October 2, Khashoggi had gone to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to collect papers which would allow him to get married to his Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz, after which he was reported missing by her, who was waiting outside the building for him to re-emerge.

Khashoggi, who was a columnist for the Washington Post, had written several articles criticising the Saudi government's "oppressive regime."

Many international leaders and organisations have been demanding a transparent and fair investigation over his mysterious death.