US President Donald Trump says it “certainly looks” as though missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is dead.
President Trump did not say what he based his conclusion on, but he says the consequences for the Saudis “will have to be very severe” if they are found to have killed him.
The president has previously warned that the kingdom will face “severe punishment” from the US if it is determined that Saudi Arabia was responsible for Mr Khashoggi’s death.
Mr Khashoggi has not been seen since entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul more than two weeks ago.
Turkish authorities say he was killed and dismembered. The Saudis have denied involvement.
Both the Turkish and Saudi governments are conducting separate investigations into Mr Khashoggi’s disappearance.
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