S/ARABIA: US and UK ministers boycott Saudi summit

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and UK International Trade Secretary Liam Fox have pulled out of an investment conference in Saudi Arabia. Their move comes amid allegations the country was behind the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.  Saudi Arabia denied the killing. The Dutch and French finance ministers, as well as several other politicians […]

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and UK International Trade Secretary Liam Fox have pulled out of an investment conference in Saudi Arabia.

Their move comes amid allegations the country was behind the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.  Saudi Arabia denied the killing.

The Dutch and French finance ministers, as well as several other politicians and business leaders, have also said they are pulling out of the summit.

However, a number of major businesses – including Goldman Sachs, Pepsi and EDF – are still intending to go despite growing pressure for a boycott.

Meanwhile, several high-profile human rights groups have demanded that Turkey ask the UN to investigate the possible killing of Mr Khashoggi.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, said that a “one-sided” investigation by Saudi Arabia was not good enough.