New Saudi King Pledges Continuity

Hours after the death of Saudi Arabia’s king, his successor, King Salman, pledged continuity in the Kingdom. He said in a televised address on Friday that Saudi Arabia will not change course.

“We will continue adhering to the correct policies which Saudi Arabia has followed since its establishment,” said King Salman. (The New York times, 23 January)

King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud died Thursday at the age of 90. His brother, Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, ascends throne to become Saudi King. King Salman is 79 years old.

In a statement read on Saudi state television, King Salman promoted Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz as the crown prince. Prince Murqin is 69 years old, the youngest son of King Abdul Aziz, the founder of modern Saudi state. 

File photo: King Salman, the new ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in a 2013 photo (Raed Qutena/European Pressphoto Agency/NYTimes)