(Eds: ATTENTION - Please read quote as 'repulsive incident'. Prince Mohammed was speaking in Arabic, but the official translator translated his words into English as 'heinous crime' )

Riyadh, Oct 24 (AFP) Saudi Arabia's crown prince Wednesday denounced the murder of critic Jamal Khashoggi as a "repulsive incident", insisting the kingdom was cooperating with Turkish authorities and "justice will prevail".

"The incident was very painful for all Saudis, it's a repulsive incident and no one can justify it," Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in his first comments since the murder of the journalist.

"Those responsible will be held accountable... in the end justice will prevail," the prince said, speaking in Arabic during an address to the Future Investment Initiative Forum in Riyadh.

The official simultaneous translation into English of his comments said the prince called the killing "a crime" adding it was "heinous".

Saudi leaders have denied involvement in Khashoggi's murder inside Saudi Arabia's Istanbul consulate on October 2, pushing responsibility down the chain of command.

But the kingdom is under mounting international pressure over the killing amid US accusations of a monumental cover-up by the kingdom.

Prince Mohammed, widely known as MBS, said Saudi Arabia was working with the Turkish authorities to investigate the case.

"Many are trying to exploit the Khashoggi affair to drive a wedge between Saudi Arabia and Turkey," he said.

"But they will not succeed as long as there is a king named Salman and a crown prince named Mohammed bin Salman." (AFP) MRJ MRJ 10242332 NNNN.