Biden Confronts Saudi Crown Prince Over Khashoggi Murder

JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden said on Friday he told Prince Muhammad bin Salman that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia's kingdom was held responsible for the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Biden conveyed this opinion to MbS – a popular name for the prince, the de facto Saudi ruler – moments after the two met and exchanged fist-shaking greetings.

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Biden said that MbS denied any involvement in the 2018 killings.

MbS said he had held those involved accountable, Biden said.

"About the killing of Khashoggi, I raised the issue at the beginning of the meeting, explaining what I thought about it at the time and what I think about it at the moment," Biden said as quoted by Antara, Saturday, July 16.

"I was frank and straight to the point. I stated my opinion clearly. I said very clearly, for an American president to be silent on the issue of human rights violations is not in line with who we are and who I am," he said.

US intelligence says the crown prince approved the operation to capture and kill Khashoggi.

Khashoggi, a royal insider turned critic, was killed and dismembered by Saudi agents at the kingdom's consulate building in Istanbul, Turkey.

Biden said what happened to Khashoggi was outrageous.

"He basically said he was not personally responsible for the (murder)," Biden said of MbS's response to the meeting.

"I indicated that (in the past) I thought he was (involved)," Biden said, adding.

While campaigning for the US presidential election, Biden once said that Saudi Arabia should be made a "pariah" on the world stage because of Khashoggi's killing.

On Friday, Biden said he did not regret his comments.