Khashoggi: Erdogan hopes to avoid unwanted situation

By Aylin Sirikli and Mehmet Tosun

ANKARA

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday in Ankara said that he hoped to avoid an "undesirable situation" regarding the missing Saudi journalist.

Speaking to reporters following the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s consultation meeting in the Kizilcahamam district, Erdogan said: “I still have good expectations. I hope not to come across a situation that is undesirable.”

Jamal Khashoggi, journalist and regular columnist for the Washington Post, has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

Turkish police investigating the case had said in a statement Saturday that 15 Saudis, including several officials, had arrived in Istanbul on two planes and had entered the consulate while Khashoggi was inside.

Erdogan said he was following the ongoing developments.

“Whatever comes of this, we will be the ones to declare it to the world,” he added.

The Turkish police in Istanbul has been keeping an eye on the comings and goings at the Saudi consulate since the time -- according to the journalist's fiancee -- Khashoggi entered the building.

The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul initiated an investigation on the day of the incident while the consulate also said on Twitter that it was working in coordination with Turkish authorities.