Saudi rejects US Senate's move on Khashoggi's murder

Saudi Arabia on Monday rejected recent moves by the US Senate over the murder of The Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The Senate on December 13 voted to recommend ending American military assistance to the Saudi-led operation in Yemen, and accused Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of involvement in Khashoggi's murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October, reports Xinhua news agency.

The positions of the US Senate were based on "unsubstantiated claims and allegations, and contained blatant interferences in the Kingdom's internal affairs, undermining the Kingdom's regional and international role", the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The statement said that the the journalist's murder was a deplorable crime which does not reflect the Kingdom's policy.

Saudi authorities have said he died in a "brawl" in the consulate on October 2 and denied that the Crown Prince had ordered the killing.

The US Congress has urged a thorough investigation into his death and threatened to take more actions against Saudi Arabia, such as sanctions, if those responsible were not held accountable.

However, American President Donald Trump's administration has been reluctant to further punish the Saudi government.

--IANS

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