Qatar urges Saudi Arabia to hold Khashoggi murderer accountable

Qatar's foreign minister has called for accountability in the murder case of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as Riyadh faces its worst political crisis in decades over the political assassination.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani made the comments at an international conference in Rome on Thursday, news agency Reuters reported.

"Whoever is responsible for Khashoggi needs to be held accountable, whoever he is. We have to wait for the investigation to be concluded," Sheikh Mohammed was quoted as saying.

The comments come as international pressure has mounted on Riyadh over the grisly murder of Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

The Saudi insider-turned-critic was killed and dismembered in what Saudi Arabia said was a "rogue" operation, but CIA analysis leaked to the US media pointed the finger at Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Since 2017, a Saudi-led bloc has imposed a land, air and sea blockade on Qatar, accusing Doha of seeking closer ties with Iran and of supporting extremist groups.

Qatar denies the charges and accuses the bloc of seeking regime change.

Khashoggi was critical of Prince Mohammed's aggressive foreign policy, including the blockade of Qatar.

Last month, Qatar's foreign ministry spokeswoman said the murder of Khashoggi was "a wake-up call" for the world.