Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohamed bin Salman (MbS) has kicked off an international tour despite global finger-pointing at him over ordering the killing of one of his top critics, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi murdered in the Saudi consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Oct.2.
MbS Thursday left the kingdom for a visit to four Arab countries and also to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the G20 summit, reported the Saudi Press agency SPA.
The Crown Prince has come under intense international pressure from a global outcry following Khashoggi’s death in the Saudi consulate.
Turkey indicated that the murder of the journalist, which was carried out by 15-man hit squad that flew from Riyadh, had received orders from the highest level of the Saudi top leadership.
Turkish media close to Ankara have also released tapes where MbS was allegedly speaking with Khashoggi asking him to return to the kingdom just before the killing.
The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) also established a connection between the Crown Prince and the murder after it listened to a tape provided by Turkish authorities.
Ankara has maintained pressure on Riyadh to collaborate in the investigations and shed light on the slaughter. It also asked for the extradition to Turkey of the members of the squad that had been detained in the kingdom.
MbS according to Ankara could meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the G20 gathering in South America.
“We are looking at the schedule, there could be [a meeting],” said Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalın.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Tunisia are part of the Crown Prince’s Arab tour.
