Senior Saudis pledge loyalty

JEDDAH, June 22, (Agencies): Saudi Arabia’s newly-appointed Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman bin Abdulaziz received pledges of allegiance from royalties, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom and the President of the Shura Council, as well as religious scholars, cabinet members, senior officials, military top brass and public figures.

The dignitaries included Prince Bander bin Mohammad bin AbdulRahman, the Special

Advisor to the King Prince AbdulIlah bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Saud, Prince Khaled bin Fahad bin Khaled and Prince Megren bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The ceremony took place at Al Safa Palace in Makkah on Wednesday night.

Earlier Wednesday King Salman Bin Abdulaziz relieved Prince Mohammad Bin Nayef from his post as a Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister and appointed Prince Mohammad Bin Salman as Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Defense Minister.

Billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal also pledged loyalty to the kingdom’s new Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Alwaleed posted on his Twitter account.

“I congratulate my brother the Crown Prince and swear allegiance to Mohammed bin Salman as Crown Prince,” the posting said. Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holding investment firm is a major investor in US companies in the technology and other sectors.