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Saudi King merges royal, crown prince courts

Released by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on February 2, 2015, the photo shows Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairing a cabinet meeting in the capital city of Riyadh. © AFP

In his latest royal decree, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz has merged the royal court with that of the newly appointed crown prince.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the king issued a decree late Thursday to unite the two courts upon a proposal by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The decision came a day after the aging Saudi king relieved the former crown prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz of his position and appointed Muhammad bin Nayef as the new heir to the throne.

The photo shows Muhammad bin Nayef, Saudi Arabia’s newly appointed crown prince, during a meeting of the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council in Kuwait, April 30, 2014. © AFP

 

Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir was also appointed as the new foreign minister replacing Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud after four decades of service.

According to the decree, Muqrin, 69, was relieved of his position as deputy prime minister, too.

The decree also said that Muhammad bin Nayef will act as deputy prime minister and will continue to hold his position of interior minister and head of the political and security council.

Muhammad bin Nayef, 55 and the grandson of the founder of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz ibn Saud, is the first of his generation to be placed in line to the throne.

Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s new deputy crown prince © AFP
 

 

King Salman's son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is in his early 30s, has also been appointed as deputy crown prince.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz became Saudi king after Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud died at the age of 90 in January.

Following his succession, Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz was named as the crown prince.

FNR/NN/HMV 


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