Saudis begun swearing allegiance on Saturday to the new Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, described by the local press as the "man for the job" and praised in Washington for his commitment to fight terrorism. Nayef - who served as interior minister for nearly four decades and led a crackdown on al Qaeda in the kingdom - was named in a royal decree on Thursday to succeed Prince Sultan who died in the US last week following a long illness and was buried in Riyadh.
The new crown prince received his subjects in the royal palace in Riyadh, according to state media. The ceremony was open to all citizens, who poured in to greet the new crown prince, in keeping with the tradition in the absolute monarchy. Citizens in other regions in the vast desert kingdom will be able to pledge allegiance on Sunday to provincial governors, all of whom are members of the Al-Saud royal family.
Thursday's appointment of Prince Nayef, 78, as crown prince, "was a source of satisfaction for all Saudis," Al-Watan daily said, praising him as having the qualities of a "man of state." He "well deserved the position given his security and political experience," said Al-Riyadh daily of Nayef, who was promoted from second vice prime minister to first deputy. Nayef has also headed the ministry of interior for 36 years.
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