(WASHINGTON, DC) – The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz issued a royal decree today appointing Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the current Minister of Defense, as Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. 

Prince Salman served as Deputy Governor of Riyadh from March 1954 to April 1955, and as Governor of Riyadh from April 1955 to December 1960 and again from February 1963 to November 2011. He was appointed Minister of Defense by King Abdullah on November 5, 2011.

King Abdullah also issued a royal decree appointing Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the current Deputy Minister of Interior, as Minister of Interior.
These announcements were made following the death of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, God bless his soul, on June 16, 2012. Prince Salman and Prince Ahmed will assume their new roles effective immediately.