Saudi Arabia names new crown prince

World

Saudi Arabia names new crown prince

Close

Prince Nayef bin Abdel-Aziz Al Saud named heir to the Saudi throne.

28 October,2011 02:56 am

Saudi state TV says the kingdom has named a new crown prince.Nayef bin Abdel-Aziz Al Saud, the kingdoms tough-talking interior minister, was named heir to the Saudi throne following the death of the previous crown prince late last week.Prince Nayef has led crackdowns on Islamic militants but has also shown favor to ultraconservative traditions, such as keeping the ban on women voting.He is set to assume the throne upon the death of King Abdullah, 87, who is recovering from his third operation to treat back problems in less than a year.Prince Nayef, 78, was also named prime minister in addition to keeping his job as interior minister.US Vice President Joe Biden led an American delegation in the Saudi capital to offer condolences to King Abdullah after the death of Prince Sultan, who was also Saudi Arabias defense minister and is credited with modernizing his countrys armed forces, largely through huge arms deals with the United States.On Thursday Biden met with members of the royal family. A White House statement said Biden noted Sultans lasting contributions to the enduring partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia