Erdogan: Suspects should be tried in Istanbul over Khashoggi murder

Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Saudi Arabia to allow 18 suspects in Jamal Khashoggi’s killing to be tried in Turkish courts,  and called for independent commission to investigate the matter.

Erdogan said all those responsible, including those "at the very top",  should be brought to justice. 

Adding that diplomatic immunity not an “armour” for murder, saying Vienna convention wouldn’t allow it.

Speaking to his AK Party at parliament, Erdogan said that he does not doubt Saudi King Salman's sincerity and referring to him as the protector of Islam's most holy sites. Turkey would not complete its investigation into Khashoggi's death until all questions were answered.

He said Khashoggi was killed in a "savage way".

Erdogan also called for an independent commission to be set up to look into the murder but added he was confident of the full cooperation of Saudi King Salman.

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He added the whereabouts of Khashoggi's body were still unknown and he demanded Saudi Arabia reveal the identity of a "local cooperator" who purportedly took the body.

Erdogan said that he told King Salman that the Saudi consul in Istanbul was incompetent after which he was relieved of his duty and returned to his country.

A team of Saudi agents began arriving in Turkey the day before Khashoggi was killed, and cameras at the consulate were removed, Erdogan said.

Erdogan said a Saudi team of 15 entered the consulate the day of the killing, and that three men from the team went on an exploration trip to Belgrad forest in Istanbul and Yalova, a 90-kilometre drive south of Istanbul.