G7 states say Saudi narrative of Khashoggi murder leaves 'questions unanswered'

Saudi Arabia's explanations so far about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi leave "many questions unanswered", G7 foreign ministers said Tuesday in a joint statement.

"Those responsible for the killing must be held to account. Saudi Arabia must put in place measures to ensure something like this can never happen again," the statement said.

The statement was agreed by the foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the high representative of the European Union.

In it, they "condemn in the strongest possible terms" the killing of Khashoggi.

After more than two weeks of near silence, Saudi Arabia on Saturday finally admitted that Khashoggi, 59, was killed in their Istanbul consulate.

A former royal family insider turned critic of the Saudi crown prince, Khashoggi disappeared after he entered the consulate on October 2 to collect a document for his upcoming marriage.

"The confirmation of Khashoggi's death is a first step toward full transparency and accountability. However, the explanations offered leave many questions unanswered," the G7 ministers said.

"We reiterate our expectation for a thorough, credible, transparent, and prompt investigation by Saudi Arabia, in full collaboration with the Turkish authorities, and a full and rigorous accounting of the circumstances surrounding Khashoggi's death.

"Those responsible for the killing must be held to account. Saudi Arabia must put in place measures to ensure something like this can never happen again."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said that the "savage murder" was meticulously planned, demanding that all those linked to the killing face punishment.

While Riyadh says that Khashoggi died in a "brawl", Erdogan's comments pointed to premeditated murder, in direct contradiction to the Saudi version.