Saudi Arabia's narrative of Khashoggi's murder sparks international skepticism

Several countries and officials have criticized Riyadh's account of Khashoggi's death and demanded greater clarity regarding the case.

The backlash came after Saudi Arabia admitted that the critic had died at the hands of its officials after "discussions" at Riyadh's mission in Istanbul turned into "a brawl and a fist fight." It followed Saudi Arabia's denial for two weeks of its role in Khashoggi's disappearance on October 2.

On Saturday, Canada denounced the inconsistent Saudi narrative of the murder of Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributing columnist, calling for a "thorough" probe into the case.

"Canada condemns the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has confirmed took place in its consulate in Istanbul," Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement. "The explanations offered to date lack consistency and credibility."

She also underlined the need for "a thorough investigation, in full collaboration with the Turkish authorities, and a full and rigorous accounting of the circumstances surrounding Mr Khashoggi's death."

The top Canadian diplomat further stressed that those responsible for Khashoggi's death "must be held to account and must face justice."

Similarly, the EU foreign policy chief called for a "credible" investigation into the journalist's murder, noting that the incident breaches international conventions.

Source: PressTV