Switzerland has halted its sales of military arms spare parts to Saudi Arabia over the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul a month ago.

The Swiss government had already halted arms exports to the oil kingdom in 2009, but continued to supply spare parts and air defense munitions systems and firearms for private use.  Fabian Maienfisch, the spokesperson for the economic affairs department, noted that "this is just a temporary measure" andthe country might reverse the decision in future.

The 59-year old Khashoggi had been a high-profile critic of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, and had been in self-imposed exile since last year.  On 2 October, he enteredthe Saudi consulate to sign some papers and has not been seen this.

Turkey says it has recorded evidence that shows Khashoggi was strangled immediately after walking in, and dismembered.