Saudi Arabia not likely to extradite suspects in Khashoggi's killing

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has said the suspects in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi would be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia.

Eighteen Saudis are being investigated on the charge of "intentional homicide with premeditation" and torture over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi Arabia initially said Khashoggi had left the Saudi consulate in Istanbul alive on October 2, then claimed he had died in a fistfight there with Saudi officials. The Saudi attorney general said on Thursday that Khashoggi was killed in a premeditated murder.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday demanded that Saudi Arabia reveal the location of Khashoggi's body and hand over the suspects.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir indicated Saturday the request would be denied.

On the issue of extradition, the individuals are Saudi nationals. They're detained in Saudi Arabia, and the investigation is in Saudi Arabia, and they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia," Jubeir told a security conference in Bahrain.

US officials have said such a mission, including 15 men sent from Riyadh, could not have been carried out without the authorization of bin Salman, the country's de facto ruler while Saudi Arabia has denied any involvement of the king Salman and crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.