On Khashoggi killing, Saudi prince says U.S. also made mistakes

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, July 16 (Reuters) – Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman instructed President Joe Biden that Saudi Arabia had acted to stop a repeat of errors just like the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and that america had additionally made errors, together with in Iraq, a Saudi minister stated.

Biden stated on Friday he instructed Prince Mohammed he held him answerable for the 2018 homicide of Washington Publish journalist Khashoggi on the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, shortly after exchanging a fist bump with the dominion’s de facto ruler. learn extra

“The President raised the difficulty… And the crown prince responded that this was a painful episode for Saudi Arabia and that it was a horrible mistake,” the dominion’s Minister of State for Overseas Affairs Adel al-Jubeir stated.

Those that have been accused have been delivered to trial and being punished with jail phrases, he stated.

U.S. intelligence businesses consider the crown prince ordered Khashoggi’s killing, which he denies.

Jubeir, speaking to Reuters about Friday’s dialog between the 2 leaders, stated the crown prince had made the case that attempting to impose values by drive on different nations might backfire.

“It has not labored when the U.S. tried to impose values on Afghanistan and Iraq. In truth, it backfired. It doesn’t work when folks attempt to impose values by drive on different nations,” Jubeir quoted the prince, referred to as MbS, as telling Biden.

“Nations have totally different values and people values must be revered,” MbS instructed Biden.

The change highlighted the tensions which have weighed on the connection between Washington and Riyadh, its closest Arab ally, over a number of points, together with Khashoggi, excessive oil costs and the Yemen battle.

Biden, who landed in Saudi Arabia on Friday in his first Center East journey as president, held a summit on Saturday with six Gulf states and Egypt, Jordan and Iraq whereas downplaying his assembly with Prince Mohammed. That encounter has drawn criticism at house over human rights abuses.

Biden had promised to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” on the worldwide stage over the 2018 homicide of Khashoggi, however in the end determined U.S. pursuits dictated bettering relations with the world’s prime oil exporter and Arab powerhouse.

After the summit, the leaders gathered for a gaggle image at which Biden saved his distance from Prince Mohammed.

“His Royal Highness talked about to the President that errors like this occur in different nations and we noticed a mistake like this being dedicated by america in Abu Ghraib (jail in Iraq),” Jubeir stated.

Prince Mohammed additionally raised the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh throughout an Israeli raid within the West Financial institution.

Abu Akleh, who labored for the Al Jazeera community, was shot within the head on Could 11 whereas reporting on an Israeli raid within the occupied West Financial institution metropolis of Jenin.

Palestinians consider she was killed intentionally by Israeli troops. Israel denies its troopers shot her on objective, and say she could have been killed both by errant military fireplace or a shot fired by a Palestinian gunman.

Jubeir rejected the accusation that Saudi Arabia has a whole lot of political prisoners.

“That is completely not right. We’ve prisoners in Saudi Arabia who’ve dedicated crimes and who have been put to trial by our courts and have been discovered responsible,” he stated.

“The notion that they’d be described as political prisoners is ridiculous,” he added.

Washington has softened its stance on Saudi Arabia since Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this 12 months, triggering one of many world’s worst vitality provide crises.

Extra reporting by Jarrett Reshow
Writing by Ghaida Ghantous
Modifying by Mark Potter, Jane Merriman and Nick Macfie

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.