Saudi Arabia is preparing a report in which it is likely to admit that dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, missing since October 2, died during an interrogation at its consulate in Istanbul, according to a media report.


Khashoggi, 60, is feared to have been killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.


The incident has resulted in a global outrage, more so in the US as he lived here as a legal permanent resident and worked for 'The Washington Post'. Khashoggi, a US resident, vanished on October 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.


Turkish authorities suspect he was abducted and murdered by the Saudis. But Riyadh insists that the journalist, a known critic of Saudi King Salman, had left the building and that murder claims are "baseless".


US lawmakers have been demanding scrapping of the USD 110 billion mega defence deal with Riyadh, whereas heads of several companies, CEOs, newspapers have announced not to attend an upcoming finance conference in Saudi Arabia.


President Donald Trump on Monday talked to the Saudi King, during which the latter flatly denied having any knowledge of the missing journalist.


Officially Saudi Arabia has insisted that the journalist left its consulate, but so far has not been able to give any proof of it. Trump, who has warned Saudi Arabia of severe consequences, has dispatched his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for talks with the Saudi leader.


Amidst global outrage, CNN on Monday reported that the Saudis were preparing a report that will acknowledge that Khashoggi's death was the result of an interrogation that went wrong. The interrogation was intended to lead to his abduction from Turkey, the news channel said citing two unnamed sources. -- PTI