UN expert's report on Khashoggi's murder contains unfounded allegations: Saudi Arabia

A Saudi minister on Wednesday slammed UN rights investigator's claim over the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Calling the UN expert report as "unfounded", Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs Adel al-Jubeir said, "It is not new. The (UN) report reiterates what has already been published and circulated in the media. The report... contains clear contradictions and unfounded allegations, casting doubt on its credibility."

A UN rights investigator cited evidence on Wednesday claimingthat the proof suggested Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other senior Saudi officials liable for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

"It is the conclusion of the Special Rapporteur that Mr. Khashoggi has been the victim of a deliberate, premeditated execution, an extrajudicial killing for which the state of Saudi Arabia is responsible under international human rights law," Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions said in her report based on a six-month investigation.

Agnes Callamard also called for countries to widen sanctions to include the Crown Prince and his personal assets, until and unless he can prove he has no responsibility.

Saudi Arabia has regularly denied accusations that the prince was involved in the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi, a critic of the prince and a Washington Post columnist, was last seen at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 where he was to receive papers ahead of his wedding.

His body was dismembered and removed from the building, the Saudi prosecutor has said, and his remains have not been found.

(With inputs from agencies)