News
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Nayef dies* Defence Minister Prince Salman is most likely next heir
* President, PM express grief over demise of crown princeRIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, a half brother of King Abdullah, died on Saturday, the royal court said, leaving the oil powerhouse with no apparent successor to the throne.
Prince Nayef, a long-serving interior minister, “died outside” Saudi Arabia having recently left the Gulf state for medical treatment, said a statement carried by state media, including Al-Ekhbariyah Television and SPA news agency.
His funeral would be held on Sunday (today) after sunset prayers in Makkah in western Saudi Arabia, after his body is repatriated, it added.
The 79-year-old’s death, just eight months after he replaced his late brother crown prince Sultan, raises the issue of succession because of the advanced age of the first line of apparent heirs, at a time of turmoil rocking the Arab world.
However, his brother Prince Salman, 76, who took over the portfolio of defence minister after Sultan’s death, appears to be a strong candidate.
“No doubt, the new crown prince will be appointed by the allegiance council,” said Anwar Eshqi, head of the Jeddah-based Middle East Centre for Strategic Studies.
“All expectations point to Prince Salman to succeed Prince Nayef for his experience in administration, security and politics,” he said.
But the new commission had not been activated when Nayef was chosen as crown prince, according to political scientist Khaled al Dakheel, who argued that naming his successor is a chance to put the new body to use.
Nayef, who spearheaded Saudi Arabia’s clampdown on al Qaeda following a wave of attacks in the conservative kingdom between 2003 and 2006, became heir to the throne in October last year.
Prince Nayef travelled abroad several times this year for medical reasons, including to Algeria, the United States and Switzerland, where he was shown on television in Geneva three days ago greeting supporters.
The nature of his illness has not been made public.
During his 37 years as interior minister, Nayef also made sure that women were not allowed to drive.
Separately, President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani expressed deep sorrow and grief over the demise of the crown prince. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk