IMF chief postpones Middle East trip with Saudi stop

WASHINGTON: International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has postponed a planned trip to the Middle East with a stop in Saudi Arabia for a conference after a prominent journalist's disappearance.

"The Managing Director's previously scheduled trip to the Middle East region is being deferred," an IMF spokesperson said in a statement, without further explanation.



Lagarde had been set to participate in a conference on investments in the kingdom that has been boycotted by global business leaders since the suspected death of Jamal Khashoggi, who was last seen at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

Saudi Arabia promised to ensure a thorough probe and accountability over a missing Saudi journalist but stood by denials the kingdom killed him, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday, as he paid a supportive visit to the under-fire ally.