Paris has announced that it imposed imposed sanctions, including travel bans, on 18 Saudi citizens allegedly linked to Khashoggi murder, and that further punitive measures may be enacted in the future, depending on results of the ongoing investigation.
"The murder of Mr Khashoggi is a crime of extreme gravity, which moreover goes against freedom of the press and the most fundamental rights," French foreign ministry said in a statement. "France asks that all light be shed on the manner in which such an act may have been committed. It expects from the Saudi authorities a transparent, detailed and exhaustive response."
Earlier this week, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that Germany had banned 18 Saudi citizens, suspected of being involved in the murder of Khashoggi, from entering the country. The German Ministry of Economy and Energy, in turn, said that Berlin was exerting pressure on arms exporters to make them halt arms deliveries to the kingdom, which has already resulted in the end of the weapons exports to Riyadh.
READ MORE: Saudi FM Slams Reports of Possible Regime Change Amid Khashoggi Case
On Tuesday, Reuters reported that anonymous sources close to the royal court some members of the Saudi Royal Family have been campaigning against Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman becoming the next king.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir however called reports about a possible coup in a bid to change the royal line of succession "ridiculous" and "way out of line."
