Argentina considering probe into Saudi crown prince

Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Authorities in Argentina are considering a possible war crimes investigation into Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of his appearance in Buenos Aires for the international G20 Summit.

Human Rights Watch submitted a complaint to Argentine prosecutors Monday saying bin Salman violated international law with the country's involvement in the Yemeni civil war. The New York-based advocacy group charged that the crown prince was liable as the country's defense minister.

"Argentine prosecutorial authorities should scrutinize Mohammed bin Salman's role in possible war crimes committed by the Saudi-led coalition since 2015 in Yemen," Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

"The crown prince's attendance at the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires could make the Argentine courts an avenue of redress for victims of abuses unable to seek justice in Yemen or Saudi Arabia," the statement continued.

Despite the Human Rights Watch filing, USA Today reported that Salman would more than likely be protected by his diplomatic status while in Argentina and authorities would likely not take up a case against him.

The crown prince is in the midst of his first foreign visits since the death of Washington Post columnist and Saudi national Jamal Khashoggi. The CIA believes that the journalist's death at its consulate in Istanbul Oct. 2 was ordered by the crown prince, but President Donald Trump has not backed up the claim.

Human Rights Watch said in its statement that the crown prince has been implicated in "torture and other ill-treatment of Saudi citizens," along with Khashoggi's death.