Khashoggi murder a very big mistake: Saudi FM

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Thursday the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate is now a legal case and should not be politicised, after the public prosecutor said it would seek the death penalty for five suspects.

"The politicisation of the issue contributes to a fissure in the Islamic world while the kingdom seeks the unity of the Islamic world," Adel al-Jubeir told reporters in Riyadh.

"We consider Khashoggi’s murder a crime and very big mistake," he said.

Jubeir added that there were still unanswered questions in need of answers, but Ankara had refused three requests from Riyadh to provide proof of their accounts of the killing.

Jubeir said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had "absolutely nothing to do" with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, after the public prosecutor said he would seek the death penalty for five suspects.

Asked about possible international sanctions in response to the case, Adel al-Jubeir told reporters there was a difference between sanctioning individuals and holding the Saudi government responsible.