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A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 24 december 2019

Saudi sentences 5 to death for Jamal Khashoggi's killing

By ABDULLAH AL-SHIHRI tent by those found guilty
AYA BATRAWY to murder, according to
Associated Press state TV.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) The trials of the accused
— A court in Saudi Arabia were carried out in near
on Monday sentenced five total secrecy, though a
people to death for the kill- handful of diplomats, in-
ing of Washington Post col- cluding from Turkey, as well
umnist Jamal Khashoggi, as members of Khashoggi's
who was murdered in the family were allowed to at-
Saudi Consulate in Istanbul tend the sessions. In total,
last year by a team of Sau- 11 people were on trial for
di agents. Khashoggi's death in the
Saudi Arabia's state-run kingdom.
Al-Ekhbariya TV channel The verdicts were read
reported that three others by Shaalan al-Shaalan, a
were sentenced to prison. spokesperson from the at-
All can appeal the verdicts. torney general's office, and
The Saudi crown prince, broadcast on state TV. No
Mohammed bin Salman, names were given for those
had drawn international found guilty. The attorney
condemnation for the kill- general's office also said it
ing because several Saudi is looking into the verdicts,
agents involved worked di- In this Dec. 15, 2014, file photo, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi speaks during a news confer- which were issued by Ri-
rectly for him. The kingdom ence in Manama, Bahrain. yadh's criminal court, to see
denies that Prince Moham- Associated Press whether to move ahead in
med had any involvement the appellate court.
or knowledge of the opera- mer top adviser, Saud al- role in the operation. from prison after the ver- The three suspects in eh
tion. Qahtani, had no proven The court also ruled that dicts were announced, ac- case who face prison time
State TV also reported the involvement in the killing. the Saudi consul-general cording to state TV. were sentenced to a total
Saudi attorney general's Al-Qahtani, however, has in Istanbul at the time, Mo- After holding nine sessions, of 24 years, but no individu-
investigation showed that been sanctioned by the hammed al-Otaibi, was the trial concluded that al breakdown for each per-
the crown prince's for- United States for his alleged not guilty. He was released there was no previous in- son was given. q

Poor air quality keeps schools closed in Iran's capital

By NASSER KARIMI sion that's been hovering according to one school-
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Dan- over the capital since last teacher in Tehran, Maryam
gerously poor air quality month. Lavasani.
forced Iran's government The smog is mostly caused But the smog doesn't only
on Monday to extend by heavy traffic as well as affect children. Zahra Ali-
school closures in the capi- factory pollution, accord- pour, a 60-year-old home-
tal Tehran, a city home to ing to Tehran's provincial maker with a chronic lung
over 10 million people. governor. It's been wors- condition, told The Asso-
Schools have been closed ened by a lack of wind and ciated Press that she has
since Saturday and will re- rain. trouble just going outside.
main shut until Wednesday, Tehran's air is among the "Breathing is really difficult
the end of Iran's workweek, most polluted in the world. for me. What can I do? If
according to the official Similar school closures I don't leave home, how
IRNA news agency. were in effect in other cit- can I take care of my daily
Nearby mountains were ies as well. Still, despite the jobs? And when I come out
Thick smog blankets the skyline obscuring nearby mountains in completely obscured by pollution, many students of the house, the air pol-
Tehran, Iran, Monday, Dec. 23, 2019. the a thick layer of air seemed to be enjoying lution really hurts me," she
Associated Press pollution called an inver- their extended vacation, said.q