The Biden administration is expected to release a declassified US intelligence report finding that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, officials familiar with the matter say.
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The release would represent the latest move by US President Joe Biden to realign ties with Riyadh after years in which Washington largely gave its key Arab ally and major oil producer a pass on its human rights record, intervention in Yemen's civil war and other issues.
The report's release is expected to coincide with the first phone conversation, possibly on Wednesday, between Biden and Saudi King Salman since Biden became president.
Biden is shifting US policy away from the cozy relationship the White House of former president Donald Trump had with the crown prince.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters Biden would speak only with the 85-year-old Saudi king and said the Khashoggi report would come out soon.
Khashoggi, 59, a Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist, was lured to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018, and killed by operatives linked to the crown prince, the kingdom's de facto ruler. His remains have never been found.
Riyadh eventually admitted Khashoggi was killed in a "rogue" extradition operation gone wrong but it denied the crown prince was involved. Five men convicted for the murder had their death sentences commuted to 20 years jail after being forgiven by Khashoggi's family.
Four US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the declassified US intelligence report concluded the crown prince approved and likely ordered the murder of Khashoggi, who criticised the crown prince's policies.
A classified version of the report was briefed to Congress in 2018 but the Trump administration refused to release a declassified version.
Australian Associated Press
