Dubai: In a widely anticipated move, Saudi Arabia`s Interior Minister Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz has been chosen as the country`s new Crown Prince and has been appointed Deputy Premier, a royal decree said. The country`s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in a royal order issued on last evening, notified the Chief and members of the Allegiance-Pledge Commission of his choice.
The announcement was subsequently made on state-owned television channels. This has come within a week of the death of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Earlier, the King held a meeting with the Chief and members of the Allegiance-Pledge Commission at his palace in Riyadh. Abdulaziz will continue to hold the post of the Interior Minister.
Later, the King also instructed the other princes to pledge allegiance to 78-year-old Abdulaziz as Crown Prince, UAE`s official news agency SPA said.