Canada FM: Khashoggi case not over, despite Trump’s statements

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said her country does not consider the case of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi as closed despite US President Donald Trump’s statements of “solidarity” with Saudi Arabia, local media reported.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) quoted Freeland as saying that the explanations provided by Saudi Arabia regarding the circumstances of Khashoggi’s death lack both credibility and logic.

She added that Canadian officials continue talks with their American counterparts on the recent US sanctions on a number of Saudis suspected of being involved in the crime.

“It is very clearly Canada’s position that those responsible for this horrendous murder must face full responsibility for it,” she said.

Read: Canada mulls next steps towards Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi’s death

On Tuesday, Trump said that the United States “intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region.”

Trump implied that the Saudi Crown Prince Muhammed Bin Salman may have authorised the murder saying: “May be he did, may be he did not.”

Saudi Arabia faces international backlash after Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October.