Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, shown at a news conference in Riyadh on Dec. 9, will become minister of state for foreign affairs, with duties that remain unclear. The Saudi government belatedly acknowledged the involvement of its operatives but insisted they had disobeyed instructions to bring Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia alive. The Saudi government has publicly reacted to the criticism with defiance — for example, condemning a recent U.S. Senate resolution that blamed the crown prince for Khashoggi’s killing. But Saudi officials have privately signaled their concern about the international fallout. Some had predicted in recent weeks that the response would include a government shake-up that might also provide more seasoned counsel to the 33-year-old crown prince.

Source: Washington Post December 27, 2018 19:34 UTC