ISTANBUL -- Saudi Arabia’s Consul General in Istanbul Mohammad Al-Otaibi opened up his mission on Saturday to show that Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, who vanished after coming out of the consulate four days ago, was not on the premises.

Reuters journalists toured the six-storey consulate in northern Istanbul.

“I would like to confirm that...Jamal is not at the consulate nor in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the consulate and the embassy are working to search for him,” Al-Otaibi said in an interview at the consulate.

“We are worried about this case.”

Al-Otaibi said there were no legal charges against Khashoggi at the consulate, and he gave a tour of the building to Reuters to demonstrate that the missing journalist was not on the premises.

Opening cupboards, filing cabinets and wooden panels covering air conditioning units, Otaibi walked through the six floors of the building including a basement prayer room, offices, visa counters, kitchens and toilets as well as storage and security rooms.

The building has two entrances at the front and back, and Otaibi said Khashoggi could have left from either side.

“If those who say he was kidnapped are focusing on his being in the mission, these are just rumors that have no proof,” he said. “And we unfortunately regret some of the statements that have been made by Turkish officials who insist that (Khashoggi is) in the consulate ... without it being built on facts.”

Otaibi said authorities in the two countries were in contact. “Let us leave some time and a chance for both sides to see results”.

The idea that Khashoggi may have been abducted at the consulate was “disgusting”, he said.