US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he believes Jamal Khashoggi is dead; more than two weeks after the Saudi journalist entered a Saudi consulate in Turkiye's Istanbul never to be seen again.

Asked about consequences for Saudi if it is found to be involved in Khashoggi's killing, Trump said, "Well it will have to be severe, I mean it is bad, bad stuff. We will see what happens. Ok?"

Trump's comments attract notice that it came hours after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo returned from a diplomatic mission to Saudi Arabia and Turkiye and briefed Trump on Thursday morning.

ILKHA