Saudi team arrives in Turkey for 'Khashoggi investigation'

Saudi officials arrived in Istanbul on Friday, to work with a Turkish investigative team looking into the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, despite Riyadh being the chief suspect in the case.

Their visit comes after Mecca governor and senior Saudi royal Prince Khaled al-Faisal flew into Turkey to help smooth over a potential rift between the two countries, according to Reuters.

Saudi Arabia initially said they would allow Turkey to search the consulate but blocked access once information of the so-called "murder squad" was leaked to media.

On Thursday, Ankara announced the formation of a joint Saudi-Turkish investigation team to look into the disappearance of Khashoggi.

"A delegation has arrived in Turkey as part of efforts to form a joint working group with Saudi Arabia," a source told Reuters.

An independent Turkish probe is taking place, with investigators saying that Khashoggi was murdered in the consulate by Saudi agents.

A team of 15 Saudis entered and left Turkey the day Khashoggi went missing, including a forensics expert.

They are believed to have drugged and killed Khashoggi and his body dismembered with a "bone saw" brought over from Saudi Arabia for that purpose.

Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate on 2 October with no trace of him since.