Saudi Arabia says that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered, blaming a “rogue operation” for a killing that has sparked an international outcry.
Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told Fox News the act was a “tremendous mistake” and denied the influential crown prince ordered the killing.
Saudi Arabia has been under pressure to explain what happened, having first said Mr. Khashoggi was alive.
He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October.
Turkish officials believe Mr. Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the Saudi government, was murdered by a team of Saudi agents inside the building.
Saudi Arabia initially said he had left the building unharmed but on Friday admitted for the first time he was dead, saying that Khashoggi was killed in a fight.
That claim though met widespread scepticism.
In his comments, Mr. al-Jubeir described the incident as murder.
“We are determined to find out all the facts. And we are determined to punish those who are responsible for this murder,” he said.
“The individuals who did this did this outside the scope of their authority,” he added. “There obviously was a tremendous mistake made, and what compounded the mistake was the attempt to try to cover up.”
He also said that they did not know where the body was, and insisted the action was not ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, seen as Saudi Arabia’s most influential figure.
“Even the senior leadership of our intelligence service was not aware of this,” he said, calling it a “rogue operation.”
Saudi Arabia says it arrested 18 people, sacked two aides of Mohammed bin Salman and set up a body, under his leadership, to reform the intelligence agency following the incident.
Both King Salman and the crown prince called Mr. Khashoggi ‘s son on Sunday to express their condolences over his death, the Saudi Press Agency reports.
In a Washington Post interview on Saturday, US President Donald Trump said there had been “deception” and “lies” in Saudi Arabia’s explanation, having previously said he found their narrative to be credible.
He said he would “love” it if the Crown Prince was not responsible for the murder. The president has raised the possibility of imposing sanctions but said halting an arms deal would “hurt us more than it would hurt them”.
The UK, France and Germany issued a joint statement expressing shock at the death and demanding a full explanation, saying: “Nothing can justify this killing and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
Several of Saudi Arabia’s regional allies have come out in its support.
Kuwait praised King Salman for his handling of the case, while Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have been among those reflecting similar praise.
Also on Sunday, Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would reveal the “naked truth” of the matter in parliament on Tuesday.
Migrant caravan on the move from Mexico-Guatemala border
Thousands of people travelling from Central American nations to try to enter the US have resumed their journey from southern Mexico to the US border.
Early on Sunday, the large caravan started walking northwards from the border city of Ciudad Hidalgo.
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The Mexican authorities had tried to stop them at a border bridge between Mexico and Guatemala.
But some managed to cross into Mexico illegally by boat over the Suchiate river.
The group, mostly from Honduras, say they are fleeing violence and poverty, and include women and children.
The Associated Press news agency reports that 2,000 migrants, voting by a show of hands, took the decision to continue their journey.
“Let’s all walk together!” and “Yes, we can!” they said. They were not detained by the authorities upon crossing the border.
Others migrants remain stranded at the border in an attempt to enter Mexico legally.
The Mexican authorities accepted small groups for asylum processing and handed out 45-day visitor permits to others.
Some boarded transport organised by the Guatemalan authorities at Tecun Uman to return to Honduras voluntarily.
One migrant, who has a prosthetic leg, told the BBC he was determined to reach the US.
“I’m looking for a better future for my children. It’s been difficult but you have to fight for what you want.
“I am asking President [Donald] Trump to help us… people like me… who want to survive.”
President Trump has repeatedly warned the migrants to turn back, threatening to close down the US border and cut aid to countries allowing the caravan to pass.
In tweets on Sunday, he said efforts were being made to “stop the onslaught of illegal aliens”. He suggested the caravan was politically motivated.
“The Caravans are a disgrace to the Democrat Party. Change the immigration laws NOW!'” he said.
Another separate group of around 1,000 mainly Honduran migrants has also set off for the US, starting on foot from Esquipulas in Guatemala.