Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, had ordered the dismissal of five officials.
Published: Sat 20 Oct 2018, 10:00 PM
Updated: Sun 21 Oct 2018, 8:17 AM
Saudi Arabia on Saturday sacked Deputy intelligence chief Ahmad Al Assiri and royal court media adviser Saud Al Qahtani after conceding that critic Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its Istanbul consulate. Their ouster came alongside the arrests of 18 Saudi suspects and the dismissal of other intelligence officials.
Saudi state media said the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, had ordered the dismissal of five officials. He also ordered the formation of a ministerial committee headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to restructure the general intelligence agency.
US President Donald Trump, who has made close ties with Saudi Arabia a centerpiece of his foreign policy, said in Arizona: "I think it's a good first step, it's a big step."
"Saudi Arabia has been a great ally. What happened is unacceptable," he said.
The Saudi public prosecutor said a fight broke out between Khashoggi and people who met him in the consulate, leading to his death.
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