Saudi king, crown prince meet Khashoggi family

RIYADH

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with family members of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Riyadh on Oct. 23, state media said.

The Saudi rulers met with Khashoggi’s son Salah and brother Sahel at the royal palace, state-run news agency SPA reported.

The report said King Salman and Prince Mohammed offered their condolences to the family of the Saudi journalist.

Khashoggi -- a Washington Post contributor and critic of the crown prince -- was killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

After more than two weeks of vehemently denying Khashoggi was dead, the Saudi government on Oct. 20 said he was killed in a fight inside the consulate and said the murder was not state-sanctioned.

Khashoggi was a US resident and had lived in self-imposed exile in Virginia since 2017, shortly after the powerful Prince Mohammed was appointed heir to the throne.

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Mohammed, who is suspected of playing a role in the killing of Khashoggi, received a standing ovation as he made an unannounced appearance at a global investment conference in Riyadh on Oct. 23.

His presence came as American business executives attending the conference tried to keep a low profile and Saudi business leaders attempted to distance themselves from Khashoggi’s murder.

Still, more than 3,000 people were attending the conference and, in the opening hours, the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton buzzed as executives glided across the marble floors, sipping kiwi juice, exchanging business cards and discussing potential deals.

The Crown Prince left the conference without giving a speech.