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Saudi King Replaces Crown Prince with Son

Saudi Arabia’s king Salman has fired crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, 57, and appointed his son, Mohammed bin Salman, 31, as successor to the throne.

In a royal decree, the former crown prince, a nephew of the king, was removed as heir to the throne of the home of Islam’s holiest sites. According to the decree, the former crown prince was also fired from his post as interior minister.

The new change implies that, barring other changes, Mohammed bin Salman, who was previously the deputy crown prince, will assume the throne of Saudi Arabia when his father, 81, dies.

The Saudi government’s official news agency reports that the newly-announced crown prince was also named deputy prime minister and maintained his post as defence minister.

“His supporters praise him as hard-working and say he offers a hopeful vision for the kingdom’s future, especially for its large youth population. His critics have called him rash, inexperienced and power-hungry,” the New York Times writes of the new crown prince.

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