Trump demands Saudi answers on Khashoggi disappearance

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he has talked to Saudi officials “at the highest levels” about the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and ordered US authorities to get to the bottom of the matter. A week ago, the US-based journalist, a prominent critic of Saudi policies, entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for paperwork referring to his coming marriage – and was never seen again. His fiancée waited outside in vain. “This is a bad situation,” Trump told reporters about the disappearance which has stirred international concern. Turkish authorities suspect Khashoggi was murdered and his body extricated from the consulate in a vehicle with consular number plates. They allege that a 15-member Saudi intelligence team was involved. This is denied by the government in Riyadh.