Saudi Arabia forcefully rejects ‘threats’ over Khashoggi disappearance

A combative Saudi Arabia said Sunday that it would not bend to “threats” as it pushed back against growing U.S. and international pressure over allegations that it is responsible for the death of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, warning of retaliation for any sanctions.

The kingdom’s government is as “glorious and steadfast as ever,” and neither threatened economic measures nor will the repetition of “false accusations” hurt it, the official news agency said, even as the Saudi financial market plummeted. Censure of any kind would be met with “greater action” from Riyadh, it added, pointing out Saudi Arabia’s “vital role” in the world economy.