RIYADH: The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia has removed veteran deputy defence minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan (pictured) from his post, state media reported yesterday.
Prince Khaled was head of the Saudi Armed Forces during the 1991 Gulf War but was passed over for the job of Defence Minister in 2011 after the death of his father, Crown Prince Sultan, who had held the position for five decades.
Prince Khaled also owns the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat, published in London.
He has been replaced as deputy defence minister by Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, citing a royal decree. Prince Fahd is a former head of the Saudi Navy. SPA did not give a reason for the switch.
The Defence Minister is Crown Prince Salman, King Abdullah’s named successor.
Reuters/AFP
