Saudi crown prince lands in Argentina amid call to prosecute him

Saudi Arabia's crown prince has arrived in Argentina for a Group of 20 summit amid calls to charge him with war crimes and complicity in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi state-run media media announced on Wednesday that Mohammed bin Salman had arrived in Buenos Aires, as he attempts to shrug off international condemnation over Khashoggi's brutal killing.

The Saudi foreign ministry tweeted video footage of the crown prince getting off a plane in Buenos Aires.

Prince Mohammed is set to attend G20 leaders' summit on Friday, while Argentina was meanwhile due to decide whether to launch an investigation into him over the journalist's murder and war crimes in Yemen.

On Monday Kenneth Roth, the executive director of Human Rights Watch has asked Argentina to open the probe.

"A decision by Argentine officials to move toward investigation would be a strong signal that even powerful officials like Mohammed bin Salman are not beyond the reach of the law," Roth said in a statement.

"And Mohammed bin Salman should know that he may face a criminal probe if he ventures to Argentina."

Saudi Arabia has faced sharp international criticism over the murder of Khashoggi, who was critic of the crown prince.

The journalist was killed and dismembered in what Saudi Arabia said was a "rogue" operation - though CIA analysis leaked to the US media appeared to implicate Prince Mohammed.

The Saudi crown prince has also held talks in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Tunisia on his first foreign tour since the Khashoggi affair erupted.

Hundreds of protesters rallied against the visit in the Tunisian capital, urging justice for the murder of Khashoggi and condemning the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen.

Security has been increased at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Buenos Aires, where Prince Mohammed will stay during his visit to the G20.