CIA pins the blame on Saudi Crown Prince for Khashoggi death

The CIA believes the head of Saudi Arabia's royal family, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is directly responsible for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Reports suggest that sources close to the US intelligence agency have assessed evidence of Khashoggi's murder in detail, and have informed other parts of US government, including Congress, of its findings. 

Saudi Arabia has continually defended the Prince as innocent in the matter, which saw Saudi agents orchestrate the murder and consequent cover-up of Khashoggi in the country's consulate in Istanbul last month.

The Saudi embassy in Washington has rejected the CIA's findings, telling Reuters in a statement: "The claims in this purported assessment is false [sic]. We have and continue to hear various theories without seeing the primary basis for these speculations."

US authorities declined to comment on the reports, however its vice president Mike Pence told reporters this morning the US "is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder".

The news follows moves made by the US on Thursday to impose sanctions on 17 Saudi officials over their alleged roles in Khashoggi's death. Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has sought the death penalty for five suspects in the murder.

Among those sanctioned by the US was Saud al-Qahtani, a top aide to the Crown Prince before being removed from his position after the killing.

The CIA's findings represent the most concrete evidence against Saudi Arabia's government to date, as the US had previously stopped short of any action that might affect lucrative US arms deals with the country which President Donald Trump has fought to preserve.