The body of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was "dissolved" after he was murdered and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul a month ago, an advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday.

The claim echoed what a Turkish official had told the Washington Post -- for which Khashoggi was a contributor -- that authorities are investigating a theory the body was destroyed in acid.

"We now see that it wasn't just cut up, they got rid of the body by dissolving it," Yasin Aktay, an advisor to Erdogan and official in Turkey's ruling party, told the Hurriyet newspaper on Friday.

"According to the latest information we have, the reason they cut up the body is it was easier to dissolve it," Aktay said.

Saudi Arabia has faced a torrent of international condemnation over the killing of the royal insider-turned-critic.

Turkey's chief prosecutor on Wednesday confirmed for the first time that Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the consulate on October 2 as part of a planned hit, and his body was then dismembered and destroyed.

"They aimed to ensure no sign of the body was left. This is what is understood from the prosecutor's statement, said Aktay, who was close to the journalist.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/jamal-khashoggi-murder-saudi-crown-prince-told-us-he-was-a-dangerous-islamist-174996">Saudi crown prince reportedly told US Khashoggi was a dangerous Islamist</a>

"Killing an innocent person is one crime, the treatment and extent of what was done to the body is another crime and dishonour."

The Turkish official quoted by the Washington Post said that "biological evidence" found in the consulate's garden indicated the body was likely disposed of near where Khashoggi was killed.

"Khashoggi's body was not in need of burying," the official told the US newspaper on the condition of anonymity.

Saudi authorities have denied Turkish police permission to search a well in the consulate's garden, but did allow them to take water samples for analysis, according to local media reports.

The murder has placed strain on the decades-old alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia and tarnished the image of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler.

US Secretary of State <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/sanctions-on-khashoggi-killers-weeks-away-mike-pompeo-175015">Mike Pompeo</a> said on Thursday it may take "a handful more weeks" before Washington has enough evidence to impose sanctions on the individuals responsible.

The body of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was "dissolved" after he was murdered and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul a month ago, an advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday.

The body of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was "dissolved" after he was murdered and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul a month ago, an advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday. The claim echoed what a Turkish official had told the Washington Post -- for which Khashoggi was a contributor -- that authorities are investigating a theory the body was destroyed in acid. "We now see that it wasn't just cut up, they got rid of the body by dissolving it," Yasin Aktay, an advisor to Erdogan and official in Turkey's ruling party, told the Hurriyet newspaper on Friday. "According to the latest information we have, the reason they cut up the body is it was easier to dissolve it," Aktay said. Saudi Arabia has faced a torrent of international condemnation over the killing of the royal insider-turned-critic. Turkey's chief prosecutor on Wednesday confirmed for the first time that Khashoggi was strangled as soon as he entered the consulate on October 2 as part of a planned hit, and his body was then dismembered and destroyed. "They aimed to ensure no sign of the body was left. This is what is understood from the prosecutor's statement, said Aktay, who was close to the journalist. Also read: Saudi crown prince reportedly told US Khashoggi was a dangerous Islamist "Killing an innocent person is one crime, the treatment and extent of what was done to the body is another crime and dishonour." The Turkish official quoted by the Washington Post said that "biological evidence" found in the consulate's garden indicated the body was likely disposed of near where Khashoggi was killed. "Khashoggi's body was not in need of burying," the official told the US newspaper on the condition of anonymity. Saudi authorities have denied Turkish police permission to search a well in the consulate's garden, but did allow them to take water samples for analysis, according to local media reports. The murder has placed strain on the decades-old alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia and tarnished the image of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday it may take "a handful more weeks" before Washington has enough evidence to impose sanctions on the individuals responsible.

Jamal Khashoggi's body was 'dissolved' after murder: Erdogan advisor

Saudi Arabian officials have appeared unwilling to "genuinely cooperate" with Turkey's investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a senior Turkish official said on Wednesday.

"The Saudi officials seemed primarily interested in finding out what evidence the Turkish authorities had against the perpetrators," the news agency AFP quoted an official saying. "We did not get the impression that they were keen on genuinely cooperating with the investigation."

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor reportedly held talks overnight with Turkish intelligence officials over the investigation into the killing of&nbsp;Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

According to a report by Reuters, Saudi public prosecutor Al Mojeb left his hotel shortly after midnight and went to the Istanbul regional offices of Turkey's National Intelligence Agency (MIT). However, there is no report on how long he stayed there before returning to his hotel.

Khashoggi's death has escalated into a crisis for Saudi Arabia which at first denied any knowledge of, or role in, his disappearance four weeks ago.

Last week Mojeb contradicted previous Saudi statements, saying <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/murder-of-khashoggi-premeditated-saudi-prosecutor-173420">Khashoggi's killing was premeditated</a>. Riyadh says it has arrested 18 suspects, including a team sent to Istanbul hours before Khashoggi's death, but has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-rejects-turkey-call-to-extradite-khashoggi-killers-173820">rejected Turkey's call for their extradition</a>.

President Tayyip Erdogan, who has demanded more information from Saudi Arabia, said on Tuesday Istanbul's chief prosecutor had asked Mojeb to disclose who sent the team from Riyadh which is suspected of involvement in the killing.

The killing of Khashoggi, a critic of de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has put into focus the West's close relationship with Saudi Arabia - a major arms buyer and lynchpin of Washington's regional plans to contain Iran.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Saudi Arabian officials have appeared unwilling to "genuinely cooperate" with Turkey's investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a senior Turkish official said on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabian officials have appeared unwilling to "genuinely cooperate" with Turkey's investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a senior Turkish official said on Wednesday. "The Saudi officials seemed primarily interested in finding out what evidence the Turkish authorities had against the perpetrators," the news agency AFP quoted an official saying. "We did not get the impression that they were keen on genuinely cooperating with the investigation." Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor reportedly held talks overnight with Turkish intelligence officials over the investigation into the killing of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. According to a report by Reuters, Saudi public prosecutor Al Mojeb left his hotel shortly after midnight and went to the Istanbul regional offices of Turkey's National Intelligence Agency (MIT). However, there is no report on how long he stayed there before returning to his hotel. Khashoggi's death has escalated into a crisis for Saudi Arabia which at first denied any knowledge of, or role in, his disappearance four weeks ago. Last week Mojeb contradicted previous Saudi statements, saying Khashoggi's killing was premeditated. Riyadh says it has arrested 18 suspects, including a team sent to Istanbul hours before Khashoggi's death, but has rejected Turkey's call for their extradition. President Tayyip Erdogan, who has demanded more information from Saudi Arabia, said on Tuesday Istanbul's chief prosecutor had asked Mojeb to disclose who sent the team from Riyadh which is suspected of involvement in the killing. The killing of Khashoggi, a critic of de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has put into focus the West's close relationship with Saudi Arabia - a major arms buyer and lynchpin of Washington's regional plans to contain Iran. (With inputs from Reuters)

Turkey doubts Saudi willingness to 'genuinely cooperate' on Khashoggi: Report

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday she and the leaders of Turkey, Russia and France planned to hold a summit next month on the situation in war-ravaged Syria.

"We are in favour of a four-way meeting with the presidents of Turkey, Russia and France and myself because the situation (in Syria) is still fragile," Merkel told reporters after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"We aim to do this in the month of October."

Merkel said the talks were particularly urgent in light of the fraught situation in Syria's rebel-held province of Idlib.

Turkey has backed rebels seeking to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but since late 2016 has been working increasingly closely with Iran and Russia to bring an end to the Syrian conflict.

Russia and Turkey agreed during a summit meeting in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi on September 17 to set up a buffer zone in Idlib aimed at preventing a military assault.

Syria, which has received vital military support from Russia and Iran, had said that it planned to seize Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in the seven-year war.&nbsp;

The Russia-Turkey deal was agreed following warnings that an all-out military offensive would trigger a bloodbath in the province of three million people.

Erdogan had previously indicated that he planned to host a summit to discuss Syria on September 7 in Istanbul with Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron and Merkel but the meeting never came together.

Merkel praised Turkey's "outstanding" work in hosting more than three million Syrian refugees.

Germany has taken in hundreds of thousands of Syrian asylum seekers -- a policy that has proved deeply divisive within Merkel's own government.&nbsp;

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday she and the leaders of Turkey, Russia and France planned to hold a summit next month on the situation in war-ravaged Syria.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday she and the leaders of Turkey, Russia and France planned to hold a summit next month on the situation in war-ravaged Syria. "We are in favour of a four-way meeting with the presidents of Turkey, Russia and France and myself because the situation (in Syria) is still fragile," Merkel told reporters after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "We aim to do this in the month of October." Merkel said the talks were particularly urgent in light of the fraught situation in Syria's rebel-held province of Idlib. Turkey has backed rebels seeking to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but since late 2016 has been working increasingly closely with Iran and Russia to bring an end to the Syrian conflict. Russia and Turkey agreed during a summit meeting in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi on September 17 to set up a buffer zone in Idlib aimed at preventing a military assault. Syria, which has received vital military support from Russia and Iran, had said that it planned to seize Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in the seven-year war. The Russia-Turkey deal was agreed following warnings that an all-out military offensive would trigger a bloodbath in the province of three million people. Erdogan had previously indicated that he planned to host a summit to discuss Syria on September 7 in Istanbul with Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron and Merkel but the meeting never came together. Merkel praised Turkey's "outstanding" work in hosting more than three million Syrian refugees. Germany has taken in hundreds of thousands of Syrian asylum seekers -- a policy that has proved deeply divisive within Merkel's own government.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to meet Macron, Putin, Erdogan on Syria in October

Turkey accused the European Union on Wednesday of &quot;encouraging&quot; the plotters on the night of the July 15 coup in an escalating row that has raised questions over Ankara&#39;s future relationship with the bloc. 
 
A day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a highly symbolic visit to Russia, foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkish people&#39;s confidence in the EU had &quot;unfortunately fallen&quot; in the wake of the coup, saying the bloc &quot;failed a test&quot; on the night of the putsch. 
 
&quot;Let me say openly, this is because the EU adopted a favourable position to the coup (and) encouraged the putschists,&quot; the minister told reporters during a televised briefing in the capital Ankara without expanding further. 
 
He claimed support for the EU, which Turkey has sought to join since the 1960s, had plummeted to some 20 per cent. 
 
Relations between Brussels and Ankara have become increasingly strained since Turkey launched a crackdown, imprisoning and dismissing tens of thousands within the military, judiciary and education in the wake of the putsch which it has blamed on US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. 
 
The EU has urged Ankara to act within the rule of law while condemning Erdogan for suggesting the country could bring back the death penalty, abolished in 2004 as part of Turkey&#39;s reforms to join the union. 
 
Ankara has expressed astonishment that no EU official has visited Turkey in the wake of the coup.&nbsp;Cavusoglu&#39;s comments came a day after Erdogan travelled to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin for the first time since Ankara downed one of Moscow&#39;s warplanes in November, triggering a diplomatic crisis between them. 
 
It was his first foreign trip since the failed coup, but the foreign minister said it was not a move to turn Turkey&#39;s focus to the East. 
 
&quot;Our relations with Russia are not a message to the West. We worked very hard to have good relations with Europe for 15 years,&quot; he said, warning that any deterioration in ties would not be Turkey&#39;s fault. 
 
&quot;If the West one day loses Turkey, whatever our relations with Russia and China, it will be their fault.&quot; 
 
Russia and Turkey would work together on military, foreign affairs and intelligence, he said, stressing that both were united in seeing the need for a political solution in Syria. 
 
(AFP)

Turkey's confidence in the EU has fallen because the bloc 'failed a test' on the night of the coup, said the foreign minister

Turkey accused the European Union on Wednesday of "encouraging" the plotters on the night of the July 15 coup in an escalating row that has raised questions over Ankara's future relationship with the bloc. A day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a highly symbolic visit to Russia, foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkish people's confidence in the EU had "unfortunately fallen" in the wake of the coup, saying the bloc "failed a test" on the night of the putsch. "Let me say openly, this is because the EU adopted a favourable position to the coup (and) encouraged the putschists," the minister told reporters during a televised briefing in the capital Ankara without expanding further. He claimed support for the EU, which Turkey has sought to join since the 1960s, had plummeted to some 20 per cent. Relations between Brussels and Ankara have become increasingly strained since Turkey launched a crackdown, imprisoning and dismissing tens of thousands within the military, judiciary and education in the wake of the putsch which it has blamed on US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. The EU has urged Ankara to act within the rule of law while condemning Erdogan for suggesting the country could bring back the death penalty, abolished in 2004 as part of Turkey's reforms to join the union. Ankara has expressed astonishment that no EU official has visited Turkey in the wake of the coup. Cavusoglu's comments came a day after Erdogan travelled to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin for the first time since Ankara downed one of Moscow's warplanes in November, triggering a diplomatic crisis between them. It was his first foreign trip since the failed coup, but the foreign minister said it was not a move to turn Turkey's focus to the East. "Our relations with Russia are not a message to the West. We worked very hard to have good relations with Europe for 15 years," he said, warning that any deterioration in ties would not be Turkey's fault. "If the West one day loses Turkey, whatever our relations with Russia and China, it will be their fault." Russia and Turkey would work together on military, foreign affairs and intelligence, he said, stressing that both were united in seeing the need for a political solution in Syria. (AFP)

Turkey accuses European Union of 'encouraging' coup plotters