Journalist Thomas Friedman called on Saudi Arabia to take a step back in the face of mounting accusations against it since the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October.
"Why do they lead all the headlines and stories in the world?" Asked the New York Times columnist in an interview with CNN on Sunday.
CNN said on its website that Friedman refers to what Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, which adopts the case Khashoggi - last Khamis - the possibility of a link between the Kingdom and an American newspaper seized and published pictures and messages between him and his mistress.
Saudi authorities denied the news two days ago by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubair.
Friedman went on to say that Saudi Arabia had to take a step back and ask: Why are we in all the stories?
According to CNN, the Washington Post has sparked controversy over its reports critical of US President Donald Trump's policies and its coverage of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
Saudi Arabia faces a major international crisis following Khashoggi's death. After 18 days of denials and conflicting interpretations, Riyadh announced the killing of Khashoggi inside its consulate in Istanbul following a quarrel with "Saudi people" and the arrest of 18 citizens in the context of investigations.
In mid-November 2018, the Saudi Public Prosecutor's Office announced that the person who ordered the killing was the head of the negotiating team (without naming him).
On December 5, 2018, the Turkish judiciary issued an arrest warrant against former Saudi intelligence chief Ahmed Asiri and Saud al-Qahtani, adviser to Mohammed bin Salman, on suspicion of involvement in the crime.
On January 3, 2019, the Saudi Public Prosecution announced the holding of the first trial hearings in the case, but the United Nations considered the trial insufficient and renewed its demand for a transparent and thorough investigation.
On February 8, UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, Agnes Kalamard, told the Associated Press that Saudi Arabia held a second hearing to try those accused of killing former journalist Jamal Khashoggi on January 31, away from the media.