World Blog by humble servant. CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s killing: reports

More: Fiancee of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi declines White House invitation: report

WASHINGTON - The CIA has concluded in an assessment that Saudi Arabia's crown prince ordered the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, according to the Associated Press and Washington Post.

The assessment comes weeks after the Saudi government admitted Khashoggi, a fierce critic of the royal family, was killed in its Turkish consulate at the hands of interrogators. Saudi officials, however, denied that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was involved or aware of the killing.

The CIA reached its conclusions on intelligence, including phone calls between the crown prince's brother, Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, and Khashoggi, the Washington Post reported, citing unnamed officials.

The Post reported the CIA had evidence showing Khalid told Khashoggi he should visit the Saudi's consulate in Istanbul, the location where Khashoggi was killed and dismembered.

Khalid denied having any recent communications with Khashoggi, saying in a statement from an Embassy spokesperson that the last time he'd communicated with the columnist was in October of 2017.