Jamal Khashoggi was murdered, Saudi Arabian minister says

However, he said that the Crown Prince had no role to play in Khashoggi's execution.

Regretting the act as a tremendous mistake, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told Fox News: "We are determined to find out all the facts. And we are determined to punish those who are responsible for this murder."

"The individuals who did this did this outside the scope of their authority," he added. "There obviously was a tremendous mistake made, and what compounded the mistake was the attempt to try to cover up." 

After weeks of denial, Saudi Arabian authorities finally revealed on Friday that Khashoggi was dead.

The minister also termed his death as a rogue operation, adding that the top officials were unaware of it.

"Even the senior leadership of our intelligence service was not aware of this," Adel al-Jubeir said.

Meanwhile, the kingdom has arrested 18 people so far, pertaining to the scribe's death.

Two close aides of the Crown Prince too have been removed from their positions.

The Saudi Intelligence Agency is also said to undergo a massive reform under the leadership of Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, both King Salman and the Prince called Khashoggi's son to condole the death of his father.

Even though Turkey, where the murder took place, has not officially blamed Saudi Arabia of committing the crime, its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to come out with the naked truth in parliament on Tuesday.

Khashoggi went missing on Oct 2. He was last seen alive entering the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul.

He lived in a self imposed exile and was a fierce critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, questioning his 'one man show' tactics.

The journalist was visiting the consulate to get paperwork for his upcoming marriage.