Jamal Khashoggi: Saudi Arabia admits journalist killed in Istanbul consulate

Finally the Gulf country Saudi Arabia has admitted that Saudi Prince's critic journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Saturday.

Officials claimed that he died in a brawl at the consulate but did not mention of where his body is.

According to the preliminary investigations, the Saudi government's writer died after a fight broke out inside the building shortly after he entered, said an official on Saturday.

Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who wrote critically of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MBS) rise to power, went missing on October 2 after entering the consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents needed for his upcoming marriage.

Saudi Attorney-General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb said Khashoggi died after "discussions" at the consulate devolved into an altercation.

The attorney-general said in a statement"Discussions that took place between him and the persons who met him at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul led to a brawl and a fist fight with the citizen, Jamal Khashoggi, which led to his death, may his soul rest in peace," "The investigations are still under way and 18 Saudi nationals have been arrested."

Royal court adviser Saud al-Qahtani and deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Asiri were fired from their positions.

The question remains that will Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance will put any impact on the relations of the United States and Saudi Arabia? It remains unclear where Khashoggi's body is following his killing. these questions likely to create a vacuum between th US and it's Gulf ally.

US President Donald Trump said he found Saudi Arabia's explanation about Khashoggi's credible.

"It's early, we haven't finished our review or investigation, but … I think it's a very important first step," he said.

Trump said sanctions against Saudi Arabia "could be" something he would consider but "it's too early to say" how the US will respond for now.

He said he doesn't want to cancel a multi-billion dollar arms deal with the Saudis in response to the admission of guilt.

"I would prefer, if there is going to be some form of sanction or what we may determine to do, if anything... that we don't use as retribution canceling $110bn worth of work, which means 600,000 jobs," he said.