(MENAFN- NewsBytes)
'I can't breathe' were Jamal Khashoggi's final words, says report
10 Dec 2018
Jamal Khashoggi's final words were "I can't breathe," CNN has said, citing a source who has read the transcript of an audio tape of the final moments before the journalist's murder.
The source told the US network that the transcript made clear the killing was premeditated and suggests several phone calls were made to give briefings on the progress.
Know the details here.
Sound of saw dismembering Khashoggi's body heard in the recordings
Details
Turkish officials believe those calls were made to top officials in Riyadh, CNN said yesterday.
Khashoggi, a Saudi contributor to The Washington Post, was killed shortly after entering the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on October-2.
The transcript of the gruesome recording includes descriptions of Khashoggi struggling against his murderers, CNN said, and references sounds of the dissident journalist's body "being dismembered by a saw."
Saudi calls Khashoggi's killing a 'rogue' operation gone wrong
Claim
According to Turkey, a 15-member Saudi team was sent to Istanbul to kill Khashoggi.
Saudi Arabia, however, holds that it was a "rogue" operation gone wrong, a claim undercut by the reported transcript.
For his part, US President Donald Trump has refrained from blaming Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, even though the CIA has reportedly concluded that he (Crown Prince) ordered the assassination.
Turkey repeatedly called on Saudi Arabia to hand over suspects
Saudi vs Turkey
The original transcript was prepared by Turkish intelligence services, and CNN said its source read a translation version and was briefed on the probe into the journalist's death.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister yesterday rejected demands to extradite suspects connected to Khashoggi's murder, as sought by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan has repeatedly called on Saudi to hand over suspects in the killing.
Western countries have placed sanctions on around 20 suspected Saudis
Fact
The murder has damaged Riyadh's international reputation and Western countries including the United States, France, and Canada have placed sanctions on nearly 20 Saudi nationals. The nationals are suspected to be involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi on October 2.
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