Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia dies
RIYADH-Nayef bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia reportedly died in Geneva, Switzerland. As reported by Reuters news agency quoted the Saudi television, Saturday, June 16, 2012, Nayef, who served as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior since 1975, allegedly died due to illness.
Nayef, believed to be aged 78 years, and is the heir to the throne of King Abdullah. He was named the crown prince at last in October 2011, replacing his brother, Crown Prince Sultan, who died.
Saudi state television said, Nayef will be buried in Mecca on Sunday, June 17, 2012.
Prince Nayef is known to be more conservative than King Abdullah. He opposed the king’s proposed reforms and develop a solid infrastructure to destroy Al Qaeda and imprison political activists.
With this death, King Abdullah 89 years, had to choose a new heir for the second time in nine months. Which is predicted to be replaced Nayef is his brother, Prince Salman, who currently serves as defense minister and one of the most senior figures in the kingdom.
The appointment of Nayef, in October last year by King Abdullah, is the first time after the king informed the Board of loyalty, family agency which was formed in 2006 to make the process of succession in the kingdom.
It was the first time the board is asked to confirm the choice will crown the king, an action that some analysts say will help the system of succession that are not transparent.
Nayef was appointed to replace Crown Prince Sultan, who died last October due to colon cancer in New York last week. He is also minister of defense and aviation country for nearly five decades. There is no substitute for that office who has been appointed.
Prince Nayef had been building a reputation as a conservative who has close ties to the Saudi religious authority.
However, some analysts and former diplomats in Saudi Arabia said it probably would show a different side of his character in his new position.
As interior minister, Nayef successfully led the effort to end a wave of al Qaeda attacks in the kingdom from 2003. He was happy to portray himself as a soldier under the command of the Saudi king.
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