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| Saudi king's son Mohammed bin Salman is new crown prince | Saudi king's son Mohammed bin Salman is new crown prince |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Saudi Arabia's king has appointed his son Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince - replacing his nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef, as first in line to the throne. | Saudi Arabia's king has appointed his son Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince - replacing his nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef, as first in line to the throne. |
| King Salman's decree also means Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 31, will become deputy prime minister while continuing as defence minister. | King Salman's decree also means Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 31, will become deputy prime minister while continuing as defence minister. |
| Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, 57, has been removed from his role as head of domestic security, state media say. | Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, 57, has been removed from his role as head of domestic security, state media say. |
| He has pledged allegiance to the new crown prince, news agency SPA reports. | He has pledged allegiance to the new crown prince, news agency SPA reports. |
| Why is this significant? | Why is this significant? |
| Saudi Arabia has typically been ruled by kings in their 70s or 80s. | Saudi Arabia has typically been ruled by kings in their 70s or 80s. |
| Prince Mohammed bin Salman's rapid ascent is seen by the younger generation as a sign that things are changing. | Prince Mohammed bin Salman's rapid ascent is seen by the younger generation as a sign that things are changing. |
| Before his latest promotion, he was responsible for leading Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, overseeing the kingdom's energy policy and economic reform. | Before his latest promotion, he was responsible for leading Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, overseeing the kingdom's energy policy and economic reform. |
| He must have already ruffled a lot of feathers in a royal family that was used to being presided over by a succession of elderly men, the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen reports. | He must have already ruffled a lot of feathers in a royal family that was used to being presided over by a succession of elderly men, the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen reports. |
| His father King Salman is 81 and reportedly not in the best of health, our correspondent adds. | His father King Salman is 81 and reportedly not in the best of health, our correspondent adds. |
| Prince Mohammed bin Salman could end up leading Saudi Arabia for decades. | Prince Mohammed bin Salman could end up leading Saudi Arabia for decades. |
| Who is the new crown prince? By BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner | Who is the new crown prince? By BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner |
| The rise of Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been meteoric. | The rise of Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been meteoric. |
| When I met him in Jeddah in 2013 he described himself as simply "a lawyer". Today he is a heartbeat away from ruling the most powerful country in the Arab world. | When I met him in Jeddah in 2013 he described himself as simply "a lawyer". Today he is a heartbeat away from ruling the most powerful country in the Arab world. |
| Despite being the driving force behind Saudi Arabia's damaging and inconclusive military campaign in Yemen, he is largely popular at home, especially with younger Saudis. | Despite being the driving force behind Saudi Arabia's damaging and inconclusive military campaign in Yemen, he is largely popular at home, especially with younger Saudis. |
| He has swept away many of the ineffective timeservers in government offices and replaced them with young, Western educated technocrats. He has set out a possibly over-ambitious development plan, "Vision 2030", and announced plans to sell off part of the vast state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco. | He has swept away many of the ineffective timeservers in government offices and replaced them with young, Western educated technocrats. He has set out a possibly over-ambitious development plan, "Vision 2030", and announced plans to sell off part of the vast state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco. |
| He has also forged ties with Washington and the Trump administration. | He has also forged ties with Washington and the Trump administration. |
| But his biggest and most risky move may yet prove to be his bid to curb the power of the conservative religious establishment. Washington likes this move, but others closer to home do not. | But his biggest and most risky move may yet prove to be his bid to curb the power of the conservative religious establishment. Washington likes this move, but others closer to home do not. |
| How does Saudi Arabia's royal succession work? | How does Saudi Arabia's royal succession work? |
| The founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz (known as Ibn Saud), had dozens of sons, and there are as many as 15,000 princes and princesses in the royal family. | The founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz (known as Ibn Saud), had dozens of sons, and there are as many as 15,000 princes and princesses in the royal family. |
| In 2006, a decree was passed setting up a committee responsible for electing the king and crown prince. The committee is made up of senior princes of the Al Saud royal family and is known as the Allegiance Council. | In 2006, a decree was passed setting up a committee responsible for electing the king and crown prince. The committee is made up of senior princes of the Al Saud royal family and is known as the Allegiance Council. |
| Mohammed bin Salman's new promotion to crown prince was approved by 31 out of 34 members of the council. | Mohammed bin Salman's new promotion to crown prince was approved by 31 out of 34 members of the council. |
| Analysts say those in power tend to appoint their sons to roles that will enhance their chances of being promoted - so when monarchs and crown princes change, sons can come into and out of favour. | Analysts say those in power tend to appoint their sons to roles that will enhance their chances of being promoted - so when monarchs and crown princes change, sons can come into and out of favour. |
| King Salman acceded to the throne in January 2015 after the death of his half-brother Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. | King Salman acceded to the throne in January 2015 after the death of his half-brother Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. |
| He launched his first major cabinet reshuffle a few months later, promoting Mohammed bin Nayef to crown prince and Mohammed bin Salman, who was relatively unknown at that time, to deputy crown prince. | He launched his first major cabinet reshuffle a few months later, promoting Mohammed bin Nayef to crown prince and Mohammed bin Salman, who was relatively unknown at that time, to deputy crown prince. |
| Experts say the second reshuffle has reduced uncertainty over the line of succession, and means the king has averted a potential power struggle between his son and his nephew. | Experts say the second reshuffle has reduced uncertainty over the line of succession, and means the king has averted a potential power struggle between his son and his nephew. |
| Why does Saudi Arabia matter? | Why does Saudi Arabia matter? |
| It's the most influential Arab country - and a key ally of western powers including the US and the UK. | It's the most influential Arab country - and a key ally of western powers including the US and the UK. |
| It's guardian of the two most holy sites in Islam, and regards itself as leader of the Sunni community worldwide. | It's guardian of the two most holy sites in Islam, and regards itself as leader of the Sunni community worldwide. |
| The kingdom is a key player in Sunni attempts to block Shia Iranian influence in the Middle East. | The kingdom is a key player in Sunni attempts to block Shia Iranian influence in the Middle East. |
| It is also the world's leading oil producer - and the Saudi royal family is thought to be one of the richest ruling families in the world. | It is also the world's leading oil producer - and the Saudi royal family is thought to be one of the richest ruling families in the world. |
| Who is Prince Mohammed bin Nayef? | Who is Prince Mohammed bin Nayef? |
| Prince Mohammed bin Nayef was the kingdom's security chief for many years and was known for his strong stance against jihadist militants. | Prince Mohammed bin Nayef was the kingdom's security chief for many years and was known for his strong stance against jihadist militants. |
| As deputy prime minister and interior minister, he headed up the counter-terrorism portfolio, and also had good relations with Saudi Arabia's Western allies. | As deputy prime minister and interior minister, he headed up the counter-terrorism portfolio, and also had good relations with Saudi Arabia's Western allies. |
| State media broadcast footage showing Mohammed bin Nayef meeting Mohammed bin Salman after the succession was announced. | State media broadcast footage showing Mohammed bin Nayef meeting Mohammed bin Salman after the succession was announced. |
| The former crown prince said "I am content" and "I am going to rest now. May God help you", while the new heir replied "May God help you. I will never do without your advice". | The former crown prince said "I am content" and "I am going to rest now. May God help you", while the new heir replied "May God help you. I will never do without your advice". |