Jamal Khashoggi Case: All the Latest Updates

Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain a document certifying he divorced his ex-wife so he could remarry. He has not been seen since.

Turkish sources have told media outlets they believe the Saudi writer and critic was killed inside the consulate in what they described as “premeditated murder”.

Saudi officials have countered that claim, insisting Khashoggi left the building before vanishing.

Turkish sources have told Al Jazeera that “important samples” were found during searches of two Saudi diplomatic buildings in Istanbul on Wednesday.

Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford, reporting from Istanbul, said particular attention had been paid to an area of the consulate called the “C-block”.

“It was only open to diplomatic staff. Sources in the last couple of hours have said that they have very strong evidence that Khashoggi was killed inside the C-block of the consulate.

Sources told Al Jazeera that they found fingerprints inside C-block of six of the 15 men accused of forming part of a hit-squad.

Investigators spent more than 12 hours scouring the consulate and consul general’s residence for clues about Khashoggi’s fate.

French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire has become the latest high profile figure to drop out of a prestigious economic conference in Saudi Arabia over the alleged murder of Khashoggi.

“I won’t go to Riyadh next week,” he told France’s Public Senate TV channel on Thursday, saying the journalist’s disappearance was “very serious”.

The Future Investment Initiative was hailed as the start of Saudi Arabia’s revamping of its oil-based economy it has been overshadowed by the mystery surrounding Khashoggi’s whereabouts.

Companies such as Uber, JP Morgan Chase and HSBC have also dropped out, along with media giants CNN, The Financial Times and The New York Times.

Saudi officials have not responded to repeated requests for comment on the recordings from The Associated Press in recent days.

Security services in Turkey have used pro-government media to leak details of Khashoggi’s case, adding to the pressure on the kingdom.

Trump denies covering for Saudis

US President Donald Trump denied covering up for ally Saudi Arabia in Khashoggi’s suspected murder.

Trump’s comments followed the publication in pro-government Turkish media of allegations purporting to confirm Khashoggi was not only murdered by Saudi agents in their consulate in Istanbul, but tortured and dismembered.

“No not at all, I just want to find out what’s happening,” Trump told reporters in the White House when asked if his cautious approach to the scandal amounts to a cover-up. “I’m not giving cover at all.”

The president said he would get a “full report” from Pompeo on the diplomat’s return from meetings with Saudi and Turkish leaders, allowing him to assess what really happened.

“We will probably know that by the end of the week,” Trump said.

But many in Washington suspect the government is seeking to provide cover for Saudi leaders.

“Why is the Trump administration cleaning up Saudi Arabia’s mess?” wondered the editorial board of The Washington Post, which Khashoggi wrote for.

“The US is organising a diplomatic clean-up operation for MBS [Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman] and [his] regime,” said Simon Henderson, a researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.