The killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is a complicated murder that has been "monstrously planned", the spokesman for Turkey's ruling AK Party said on Monday.
Khashoggi went missing on Oct. 2 when he entered the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul. After weeks of denying knowledge of his fate, Saudi officials said the prominent journalist was killed in a "rogue operation".
Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Ömer Çelik also said claims of negotiations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia as part of the investigation into Khashoggi's killing were unethical, adding it was Turkey's responsibility to uncover the truth about the case.
Çelik denied as "immoral" suggestions that Turkey was delaying announcing the findings of its investigation into Khashoggi's death because it was engaged in an alleged "bargaining" process with Saudi Arabia
The official said Turkey was leading a careful investigation to ensure that "nobody is falsely accused" and that the incident is not covered up.
"God willing the results will be brought into the open, those responsible will be punished and no one will dare think of carrying out such a thing again."
Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.
On the day of Khashoggi's disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.
A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
