Arabia gets first US blow after journalist Khashoggi's murder

United States Senate led to a motion to interrupt American support for a coalition led by Saudi Arabia, fighting in Yemen.

In a blow to President Donald Trump, senators voted 63 votes for and 37 against.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Defence Secretary James Mattis have called on the senators not to back the motion, saying it will make the situation worse in Yemen.

The vote comes after the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, US resident.

Criticals against Saudi Arabia have increased since Khahoggi has been killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October.

Many American senators have expressed disappointment with Trump response For Khahogg's murder.

US media have reported that the CIA believes Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has ordered the murder.

Trump has rejected the report, saying that the CIA has not drawn firm conclusions, and has stressed the importance of preserving the alliance with Saudi Arabia.

He has described Saudi Arabia as a vital ally and has rejected calls for sanctions against the leadership of the kingdom.

Senators also expressed disappointment that CIA director Gina Haspel did not attend their closed-door session on relations with Saudi Arabia.

Haspel has heard the recording, which Turkey says testifies to brutal murder Khahogg at the consulate.

“It is time to send message to Saudi Arabia, both for human rights violations, even for the extraordinary humanitarian catastrophe it is creating in Yemen”, Democrat Senator Bob Menandez said.

Republican Senator Bob Corker, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said:

We know Saudi Arabia is Allied and a semi-profile country. But we also have a crown prince who's gone out of control”.

The vote in Senate means that further debate on US support for Saudi Arabia is expected to continue next week.

But even if the Senate finally passes the resolution, it is unlikely to be approved in the current House of Representatives. Republicans there have majority and have rejected similar measures in the past.

However, this may change early next year, when the Democrats receive the majority.

The Saudi-led coalition has been involved in the Yemen war since 2015, in support of government forces fighting Shiite Huthi rebels.