News outlets reported the CIA's finding over the weekend in a case that has sparked an international outcry against the world's top oil exporter. This was the most definitive US assessment to date tying Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler directly to the killing and contradicted Saudi government assertions that he was not involved.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and one-time royal insider who had been critical of the crown prince recently, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

The CIA believes the Saudi prince ordered the killing of Khashoggi, sources told the US media last week, complicating US President Donald Trump's efforts to preserve ties with the key ally. President Donald Trump on Saturday called a CIA assessment "very premature" and that the US State Department has not made any conclusion about the case.

The same day, the UN said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusogly discussed the murder case with UN Chief Antonio Guterres but did not propose the UN open an international investigation of the case.