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King Abdullah names Prince Salman new Saudi Defense Minister | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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File picture dated May 21, 2004 shows Saudi Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud waving upon his arrival at Madrid’s Barajas airport on an official visit to Spain. (AFP)


File picture dated May 21, 2004 shows Saudi Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud waving upon his arrival at Madrid's Barajas airport on an official visit to Spain. (AFP)

File picture dated May 21, 2004 shows Saudi Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud waving upon his arrival at Madrid’s Barajas airport on an official visit to Spain. (AFP)

Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, yesterday issued a royal decree appointing Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense, succeeding his brother Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to the post.

This came as part of a series of royal decrees issued by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz yesterday, which included the renaming of the “Minister of Defense, Aviation, and General Inspection” as the “Minister of Defense.”

A second royal decree announced the appointment of Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as Governor of Riyadh Region at the rank of minister, and the appointment of Prince Mohammed Bin Saad Bin Abdulaziz as his deputy, also at the rank of minister. Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz succeeds the newly appointed Saudi Defense Minister as the Governor of Riyadh.

The royal decree which announced the appointment of Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s new Defense Minister also included the announcement of the appointment of Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz as Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense at the rank of minister.

A third royal decree issued yesterday announced the appointment of Prince Saud Bin Naif Bin Abdulaziz as Head of the Crown Prince’s Court and Special Adviser to the Crown Prince at the rank of minister. Whilst another royal decree announced the appointment of Prince Fahd Bin Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Saud as Chairman of the General Commission for Civil Aviation at the rank of minister.

A report issued by the Saudi Press Agency [SPA] revealed that “Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense, and Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, received princes and citizens who came out to greet them and congratulate them on Eid al-Adha. The reception was attended by a number of princes and officials.”

The SPA also revealed that the newly appointed Saudi Minister of Defense, Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, will receive well-wishers later on today at the Governance Palace in Riyadh following Eid prayers, as well as at his palace in the Maazar quarter of Riyadh following evening prayers.

File picture dated April 14, 2010 shows Saudi Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud receiving the degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) at Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi. (AFP)

File picture dated April 14, 2010 shows Saudi Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud receiving the degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) at Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi. (AFP)

In this Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008 file photo, Saudi Prince Salman participates in a traditional sword dance while waiting for US President Bush at the Al Murabba Palace and Natural History Museum in Al Janadriyah, Saudi Arabia. (AP)

In this Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008 file photo, Saudi Prince Salman participates in a traditional sword dance while waiting for US President Bush at the Al Murabba Palace and Natural History Museum in Al Janadriyah, Saudi Arabia. (AP)