UK's Hunt To Visit On Monday Saudi Arabia To Discuss Khashoggi's Death, Yemen - Statement

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th November, 2018) UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt will visit on Monday Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to discuss the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul as well as the conflict in Yemen, the UK Foreign Office said in a statement.

"The Foreign Secretary will be the first UK Minister to visit Saudi Arabia since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi one month ago. He will use his meetings to make clear the importance of Saudi Arabia cooperating with Turkey to conduct a full and credible investigation into Mr Khashoggi's death," the statement said.

During his visit to the Gulf states, Hunt will also focus on the problem of the ongoing deadly conflict in Yemen.

"The human cost of war in Yemen is incalculable: with millions displaced, famine and disease rife and years of bloodshed, the only solution is now a political decision to set aside arms and pursue peace. Britain has a unique position, both as pen-holder at the UN Security Council and as a key influencer in the region, so today I am travelling to the Gulf to demand that all sides commit to this process," Hunt said on the threshold of the visit.

As part of the visit Hunt will meet Saudi King Salman, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Yemeni Vice President Ali Mohsen and Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled Al Yamani.

Khashoggi disappeared on October 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Saudi Arabia's acknowledgment that the journalist had been killed in a fight inside the consulate came after two weeks of denials and growing pressure from the Western allies to provide explanations. Turkey, which has conducted a separate probe into the case, claims that Khashoggi was assassinated by a hit squad sent from Saudi Arabia.

On October 26, the Saudi prosecutor general acknowledged that the journalist's murder had been premeditated, while Istanbul prosecutors said on October 31 that Khashoggi's body had been dismembered and destroyed after the murder.

Yemen has been gripped by the civil war with the government headed by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi fighting the Shia Houthi movement. The Yemeni government is backed by the Saudi-led coalition that has been carrying out airstrikes targeting the areas controlled by the Houthis since March 2015.