Arms Exports To Saudi Arabia Impossible Over Death Of Journalist Khashoggi - Merkel

BERLIN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd October, 2018) The arms exports to Saudi Arabia are impossible after the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the country's consulate in Turkey's Istanbul, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

"Concerning arms exports, that is impossible under the circumstances we see," Merkel told reporters on Sunday.

The chancellor pointed out that Germany was firmly condemning the murder of Khashoggi and called on the Saudi authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident.

Merkel added that everyone responsible for the death of Khashoggi must be held to account.

Khashoggi, who has been working for The Washington Post newspaper as a columnist and known for his criticism of Saudi authorities, went missing in Istanbul on October 2 after he entered the Saudi consulate and never came out. The incident caused an outcry in Turkey as well as many Western countries.

After denying any knowledge of Khashoggi's whereabouts for two weeks, Saudi Arabia admitted on Friday that the journalist died in a fight inside its consulate. Riyadh also said that 18 people had been arrested over their involvement in the incident. Turkey is conducting a separate investigation into the journalist's death.