Rights groups should observe Khashoggi murder trial, says Turkey

The trial of Saudi suspects accused over the pre-meditated murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi should be observed by international human rights groups, Turkey said on Wednesday.

Turkey wants the 18 suspects accused of involvement in the violent murder of the Washington Post columnist, to be tried in a Turkish court, because the crime occurred on its territory, even though it was inside a Saudi diplomatic mission.

Authorities have prepared an extradition request for the 18 detained in Saudi Arabia, which includes a 15-man hit squad that Turkey says arrived in Istanbul shortly before the killing and carried it out.

"Let the human rights units from all respected organizations, from the United Nations to the European Union, come and watch this trial," said Omer Celik, spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party.

"Let them judge whether the trial fits the standards of international law," Celik, a former minister, told a news conference.

Ankara's call comes while the chairman of Amnesty International's Turkey office remains in jail on terror charges, despite complaints from rights groups the case has no basis.

Taner Kilic, accused of links to cleric Fethullah Gulen, is one of dozens of journalists and rights activists caught up in a crackdown launched after the failed coup attempt, which critics say President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used to target dissent. 

Khashoggi was last seen entering the consulate on 2 October to obtain documents for his forthcoming marriage.

After repeated denials, Saudi Arabia finally admitted the 59-year-old had been murdered at the mission in a "rogue" operation.

However, Erdogan has accused the "highest levels" of the Saudi government with ordering the hit, while some officials have pointed the finger at the all-powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.