By Servet Gunerigok
WASHINGTON (AA) – Mike Coffman, a Republican representative from Colorado, has demanded the immediate recall of the acting U.S. ambassador to Riyadh over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Khashoggi, a Saudi national and columnist for The Washington Post, was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday admitted that Khashoggi was killed during a fight inside the consulate.
In a statement released on Friday, Coffman, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a former serviceman with the U.S. Marines, said the U.S. must demand its allies respect human rights.
“The United States and the rest of the international community must condemn the murder of Mr. Khashoggi and the use of diplomatic posts as torture chambers for rogue nations, ” said Coffman.
“I am calling on President [Donald] Trump to immediately recall the (Acting) U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom pending further consultation with Congress, ” he added.
Washington does not have an official ambassador to the Kingdom, but Christopher Hanzel serves as interim charge d’affaires in Riyadh.
Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday that 18 Saudi citizens have been arrested over possible role in the death of Khashoggi, and attempts to conceal and cover what happened.
Turkey, for its part, vowed to reveal the full details of Khashoggi's killing using all possible means, a spokesperson for ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party said.
“Turkey will uncover whatever happened. No one should have doubts about that, ” Omer Celik told reporters in Istanbul.
