Saudi Arabia's revised account of the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi left the U.S. and other allies struggling for a response on Sunday.

France demanded more information, Germany put arms sales to the oil-rich nation on hold and the Trump administration stressed the vital importance of the kingdom and its economy to the U.S.

More than two weeks after Khashoggi disappeared, Saudi Arabia acknowledged over the weekend that the Washington Post contributor was killed inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate on Oct. 2, characterizing his death as accidental. On Sunday, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir acknowledged a cover-up attempt. The dramatic reversal — officials had previously said the columnist left the building alive — seems only to have complicated the issue for allies.