Saudi kings return to kingdom amid Khashoggi crisis

Saudi Crown Prince Prince Mohammed bin Salman returned to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Prince Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, brother of King Salman and Saudi Crown Prince Prince Mohammed bin Salman, returned to Saudi Arabia, a source familiar with the prince's moves told to leading international news channel.

Top news sources reported that the prince's return sparked speculation about his role in the kingdom's crisis management efforts following an international protest over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist and critic of the regime, was last seen entering the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

About 18 days after Khashoggi's disappearance after entering his consulate in Istanbul, Saudi Arabia acknowledged his death after a "quarrel". The defendants belong to the "killing" of the circle close to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, while demanding Turkey to take them to trial, calling Riyadh to disclose the fate of Khashoggi's body and place.

The Saudi cabinet said in a statement that the measures taken by the kingdom in the case of Khashoggi's death would not stand in the way of accountability of the defaulters and direct officials, but would include "corrective measures".

The source who spoke to leading international news channel did not explain the reasons and importance of the return of Prince Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, or if he had already sought safety guarantees after spending two and a half months abroad.