PARIS, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- France would take adequate action against Saudi Arabia if the facts of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death were clearly established and responsibility of Riyadh over the incident would be proven, Benjamin Griveaux, the government spokesperson said on Wednesday.
"As long as the facts have not been clearly established, and corroborated by our information services, we will not take any decision," Griveaux told reporters.
"But on the other hand, once light has been shed on the matter and has been corroborated by our services, based on the hypothesis that Saudi Arabia's responsibility has been proven, then we would draw the necessary conclusions and take actions," he said during a weekly briefing after a cabinet meeting.
Griveaux added Paris would take "the appropriate sanctions against the Saudi authorities," and which would not solely involve limiting arms sales, according to the government's spokesman.
Khashoggi, a harsh critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, disappeared during a visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 2.
Turkish officials said they believed that the Washington Post columnist might have been killed inside the Saudi consulate, which has been denied by the Saudi authorities.
After two weeks of denial, Riyadh, last Saturday, admitted that the 60-year-old political dissent was killed during a physical fight with the people he met in the Saudi consulate, but did not give any explanation on the cause of his death.
The Saudi authorities reiterated the crown prince had no knowledge of the killing, saying the investigation over the case will continue and that all involved in the case will be held accountable.
Eighteen Saudis were arrested in connection with Khashoggi's death.
