Jamal Khashoggi case: Saudi Arabia admits journalist died in consulate 'after fight broke out'

The Saudi Arabian government has acknowledged that journalist Jamal Khashoggi died in its consulate in Istanbul after a fight broke out.

Some 18 Saudi Arabian nationals are being held as suspects in connection with the death.

The announcement came in state media more than two weeks after Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for paperwork required to marry his Turkish fiancée. He never came out.

A royal court adviser, close to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was reportedly fired along with three leaders in the kingdom's intelligence services. Other officials have also reportedly lost their positions.

Saudi Arabia had rejected claims that Khashoggi was killed and dismembered inside the consulate.

But the country had faced growing pres​sure to explain what happened to him.

The Saudi prosecutors' statement read: "Preliminary investigations carried out by the Public Prosecution Office into the disappearance of Saudi citizen Jamal bin Ahmad Khashoggi revealed that the discussions that took place between him and the persons who met him during his presence at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul [leading] to a brawl and a fist fight with the citizen, Jamal Khashoggi, which led to his death, may his soul rest in peace.

"The investigations are still underway and 18 Saudi nationals have been arrested."

This contradicts reports by pro-government media in Turkey.

These have published surveillance video and other material suggesting Khashoggi was killed by an assassination squad, reportedly with ties to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

On Wednesday the Turkish pro-government newspaper, Yeni Safak, cited what it described as an audio recording of Khashoggi's slaying.

It said the squad immediately accosted the journalist after he entered the consulate.

It reported that his fingers were cut off and he was later decapitated.

Turkish crime scene investigators previously searched the Saudi Consulate building in Istanbul.

The nearby residence of the Saudi consul general was also investigated. Staff involved came out carrying bags and boxes.

Turkish media and a security official said investigators questioned staff and explored whether his remains could have been dumped outside Istanbul after his suspected killing.

The prominent journalist had written columns critical of the Saudi government. He lived in self-imposed exile in the US.

President Donald Trump said that the consequences for the Saudis "will have to be very severe" if they are found to have killed him.

However, he insisted that more facts must be known before making assumptions into the incident.

CCTV footage shows Jamal Khashoggi entering Saudi embassy in Istanbul

Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been sharply critical of Saudi Arabia after the disappearance of Khashoggi, said on Friday he was highly sceptical of the Saudi explanation for Khashoggi's death.

"To say that I am sceptical of the new Saudi narrative about Khashoggi is an understatement," Graham said on Twitter.

The White House said on Friday in a statement it had seen the announcement of Saudi Arabia's probe into the death of journalist Khashoggi and would continue to press for "justice that is timely, transparent, and in accordance with all due process."