France to back intl. sanctions against those behind Khashoggi’s murder: Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron says Paris is prepared to back imposing international sanctions on those involved in the death of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who is said to have been murdered on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's orders.

According to Press TV quoting a statement by the Elysee Palace, Macron made the comments in a phone conversation with Saudi King Salman on Wednesday.

The French president informed the Saudi king of his “profound indignation” at the crime, and said France, in coordination with its partners, could take action against those responsible for the murder, the statement added.

He told the king that France's main priority was "defending freedom of expression, freedom of the press and of the public.” He also urged the king to fully disclose the circumstances around Khashoggi’s death, the Elysee Palace said.

This was Macron’s first public comments since the dissident journalist’s apparent assassination sparked global condemnation.

Earlier in the day, French Government Spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said Paris “would draw the necessary conclusions and impose appropriate sanctions” once the French intelligence services conclude “Saudi Arabia’s responsibility has been proved”.

Any steps would not just involve sanctions on arms sales, he said without giving more details.

Following Khashoggi’s disappearance on October 2, Paris tried to show a relatively guarded reaction in a bid to protect its commercial ties with the kingdom, particularly its energy investments and a huge arms deal, which has been urged to be terminated by German leaders and rights groups like Amnesty International.

Macron on Tuesday refused to take questions about halting arms sales to Saudi Arabia despite Germany's calls on its European partners to follow its example and stop arms exports to the kingdom.

Journalists asked the French president whether Paris would follow Berlin halting weapons sales to Riyadh after it admitted to the death of Khashoggi in its consulate.

After over two weeks of near silence, Saudi Arabia on Saturday admitted that the journalist was killed in its consulate in Istanbul, saying it was an unauthorized operation -- a claim other countries, even the Western allies of Riyadh, have rejected.

ME