UN urges Riyadh to reveal whereabouts of Saudi journalist's body

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on Saudi authorities to reveal the whereabouts of the body of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi in order to ensure an independent and impartial investigation of his murder.

"For an investigation to be carried out free of any appearance of political considerations, the involvement of international experts, with full access to evidence and witnesses, would be highly desirable,” Bachelet said in a statement as quoted by her office.

At the same time, she stressed that "forensic examination, including an autopsy on the body of the victim, is a crucial element in any investigation into a killing."

The commissioner also urged the Saudi authorities to reveal the whereabouts of his body "without further delay or prevarication."

Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. On October 19, after more than two weeks of denials, Saudi Arabia admitted the journalist had been killed in a brawl inside the consulate. According to Riyadh, 18 people have been arrested over their suspected involvement in the incident, Sputnik recalls.

On Thursday, the Saudi prosecutor general acknowledged that the journalist's murder had been orchestrated in advance. However, Riyadh maintains that the murder had nothing to do with the Saudi Royal family, describing it as a rogue operation.