(MENAFN- Asia Times)
The German government has halted arms sales to Saudi Arabia and slapped a travel ban on a group of Saudi Arabian nationals in response to the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, according to news reports on Monday.
German Daily Die Welt reported that all exports of arms will be stopped, including deals that have already been finalized. This would include the sale of 20 patrol boats. Two of the vessels had already been approved for delivery.
The duration of the ban is not yet clear, but the government announced that it will urge other European Union governments to follow suit.
Additionally, Germany has issued travel bans for 18 Saudi citizens, following a similar measure undertaken by France.
The moves come as the Trump administration grapples with how to deal with the fallout from the murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist who had a legal resident status in the US and worked for The Washington Post.
On Friday, sources leaked the CIA's assessment with 'high confidence' that Saudi Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Salman directed the killing of Khashoggi. The assessment is believed to have been revealed in a briefing to US lawmakers.
Senator Lindsay Graham said on Sunday that Congress is considering ways to respond to the killing, adding that it was 'impossible to Believe' that Mohammed was not aware of the plan to kill Khashoggi.
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