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| Saudi royals face challenges as heir dies | Saudi royals face challenges as heir dies |
| (2 days later) | |
| Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah prepared to bury his former heir, Crown Prince Nayef, on Sunday before naming a new successor at a challenging time for the world's top oil exporter. | Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah prepared to bury his former heir, Crown Prince Nayef, on Sunday before naming a new successor at a challenging time for the world's top oil exporter. |
| The crown prince's body arrived in Jeddah a day after his death, where it was met at King Abdulaziz airport by a host of Saudi princes. Among them was the most likely candidate to succeed the 89-year-old king, Prince Salman, 76, another son of Saudi Arabia's founder Abdul-aziz Ibn Saud. | |
| The new crown prince will become heir to a king who is aged 89 at a time when Saudi Arabia faces a variety of challenges at home and abroad. | The new crown prince will become heir to a king who is aged 89 at a time when Saudi Arabia faces a variety of challenges at home and abroad. |
| Although the interior ministry, which the late Nayef headed for 37 years, crushed al-Qaida inside Saudi Arabia, its Yemeni wing has sworn to topple the ruling Al Saud family and has plotted attacks against the kingdom. | Although the interior ministry, which the late Nayef headed for 37 years, crushed al-Qaida inside Saudi Arabia, its Yemeni wing has sworn to topple the ruling Al Saud family and has plotted attacks against the kingdom. |
| Saudi rulers are grappling with unrest in areas populated by the Shia Muslim minority, and with entrenched youth unemployment. | Saudi rulers are grappling with unrest in areas populated by the Shia Muslim minority, and with entrenched youth unemployment. |
| The kingdom is locked in a region-wide rivalry with Shia Iran; the party at the airport included the former Lebanese prime minister Saad al-Hariri, representing the Sunni Muslim political alliance that Saudi Arabia cultivates against Iran. | The kingdom is locked in a region-wide rivalry with Shia Iran; the party at the airport included the former Lebanese prime minister Saad al-Hariri, representing the Sunni Muslim political alliance that Saudi Arabia cultivates against Iran. |
| Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah bin Turki Al Saud told Reuters: "We call on God to help King Abdullah choose the right person, who can bear the burdens of this position at this difficult time we face both at the level of the Arab nation and that of the Islamic community." | Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah bin Turki Al Saud told Reuters: "We call on God to help King Abdullah choose the right person, who can bear the burdens of this position at this difficult time we face both at the level of the Arab nation and that of the Islamic community." |
| Salman, who is seen as a pragmatist with a strong grasp of the intricate balance of competing princely and clerical interests that dominate Saudi politics, was named defence minister last year. | Salman, who is seen as a pragmatist with a strong grasp of the intricate balance of competing princely and clerical interests that dominate Saudi politics, was named defence minister last year. |
| The appointment of a new crown prince is not likely to change the kingdom's position on foreign or domestic policy but might influence the course of cautious social and economic reforms started under King Abdullah. | The appointment of a new crown prince is not likely to change the kingdom's position on foreign or domestic policy but might influence the course of cautious social and economic reforms started under King Abdullah. |
| Robert Jordan, a former US ambassador to Riyadh, said: "Certainly they are going to continue to focus on the relationship with the US, and continue to make efforts to properly husband their abundant natural resources of oil." | Robert Jordan, a former US ambassador to Riyadh, said: "Certainly they are going to continue to focus on the relationship with the US, and continue to make efforts to properly husband their abundant natural resources of oil." |
| Although most analysts believe it is highly likely that Salman will be chosen, the ultimate decision may rest with a family allegiance council called to approve the king's decision. The council has 30 days to approve the monarch's successor. | Although most analysts believe it is highly likely that Salman will be chosen, the ultimate decision may rest with a family allegiance council called to approve the king's decision. The council has 30 days to approve the monarch's successor. |
| The Saudi succession does not pass from father to eldest son but has moved along a line of brothers born to Ibn Saud. A previous crown prince, Sultan, died last October. | The Saudi succession does not pass from father to eldest son but has moved along a line of brothers born to Ibn Saud. A previous crown prince, Sultan, died last October. |
| Khaled Almaeena, editor-in-chief of the Saudi Gazette, said: "There will be a meeting where the next crown prince will be decided. It has always been done in an orderly and organised manner. Prince Salman fits the profile in many ways." | Khaled Almaeena, editor-in-chief of the Saudi Gazette, said: "There will be a meeting where the next crown prince will be decided. It has always been done in an orderly and organised manner. Prince Salman fits the profile in many ways." |
| A source close to the royal family said Nayef had died suddenly in Geneva after receiving treatment for a knee complaint. He was thought to be 78. | A source close to the royal family said Nayef had died suddenly in Geneva after receiving treatment for a knee complaint. He was thought to be 78. |
| Before the funeral, King Abdullah travelled to Mecca on Sunday evening from Jeddah, where the royal court and cabinet spend the summer, Saudi Press Agency reported. | Before the funeral, King Abdullah travelled to Mecca on Sunday evening from Jeddah, where the royal court and cabinet spend the summer, Saudi Press Agency reported. |
| Televison showed a host of princes in red-and-white headresses, including Salman and Prince Khaled al-Faisal, the Mecca governor, gathered on the runway to escort Nayef's body to an ambulance. | Televison showed a host of princes in red-and-white headresses, including Salman and Prince Khaled al-Faisal, the Mecca governor, gathered on the runway to escort Nayef's body to an ambulance. |
| Newspapers on Sunday mourned the death on their front pages. Al-Jazirah's front page was entirely in black and white and showed photographs of the king and late crown prince. The English-language Saudi Gazette splashed a full-page picture of Nayef with the headline: "Unto God do we belong and, verily, unto Him we shall return." | Newspapers on Sunday mourned the death on their front pages. Al-Jazirah's front page was entirely in black and white and showed photographs of the king and late crown prince. The English-language Saudi Gazette splashed a full-page picture of Nayef with the headline: "Unto God do we belong and, verily, unto Him we shall return." |
| Analysts say the most difficult decision in the succession will be when the line of Ibn Saud's sons is exhausted and a grandson must be chosen as crown prince. | Analysts say the most difficult decision in the succession will be when the line of Ibn Saud's sons is exhausted and a grandson must be chosen as crown prince. |
| Grandsons with the experience and qualifications to rule include Faisal, 71, and Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, assistant interior minister, who is 52. | Grandsons with the experience and qualifications to rule include Faisal, 71, and Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, assistant interior minister, who is 52. |
| Michael Stephens, of the Royal United Services Institute in Qatar, said: "The house of Saud will need to think about what would happen in the event the king became unwell, and there is no way on earth you would hand the crown prince role to a grandson in 48 hours' time. You have to find an older prince." | Michael Stephens, of the Royal United Services Institute in Qatar, said: "The house of Saud will need to think about what would happen in the event the king became unwell, and there is no way on earth you would hand the crown prince role to a grandson in 48 hours' time. You have to find an older prince." |
| Only a few princes of the older generation have the experience deemed necessary to rule the Middle East's largest economy. One of them, Prince Ahmed, is a full brother of Nayef and Salman, as well as the late King Fahd and the former crown prince, Sultan. He has been deputy interior minister since 1975 and is seen as likely to replace Nayef as full minister. | Only a few princes of the older generation have the experience deemed necessary to rule the Middle East's largest economy. One of them, Prince Ahmed, is a full brother of Nayef and Salman, as well as the late King Fahd and the former crown prince, Sultan. He has been deputy interior minister since 1975 and is seen as likely to replace Nayef as full minister. |
| Prince Sultan bin Saud al-Saud told Reuters: "The expectation is that Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz will take over the position of the interior minister after Prince Nayef passed away, considering that Prince Ahmed has served as deputy interior minister for 20 years. I think he is the closest to take over this position." | Prince Sultan bin Saud al-Saud told Reuters: "The expectation is that Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz will take over the position of the interior minister after Prince Nayef passed away, considering that Prince Ahmed has served as deputy interior minister for 20 years. I think he is the closest to take over this position." |
| • This article was amended on 19 June 2012. The original said the body of Crown Prince Nayef arrived at King Khaled airport, when it should have said King Abdulaziz airport. King Khaled airport is near to Riyadh. This has been corrected. |