Prince Mohammad bin Nayef appointed Saudi Deputy Crown Prince

RIYADH, Jan 23 (KUNA) -- Newly enthroned King Salman bin Abdulaziz has appointed Interior Minister Prince Mohammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz as Deputy Crown Prince and Second Deputy Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia in a Royal decree issued on Friday.
It is the first time that one of the grandsons of late King Abdulaziz has been put in line for the throne, a role reserved exclusively in the past to his sons.
King Salman began assuming leadership of the country after the passing of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz early on Friday.
The position of Deputy Crown Prince is a recent addition to the line of rule in Saudi Arabia, added by the late King Abdullah who entrusted Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz with the post, which today saw him rise to Crown Prince.
As for Prince Mohammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, born in 1959, he is the second son of the late former Crown Prince and Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, who passed away in mid-2012.
Prince Mohammad bin Nayef has a bachelor's degree in political science he received in the US in 1981.
His first endeavors as a politician saw him assume the roles of assistant to the minister of interior in 1999 and assistant minister of interior for security affairs five years later.
After gaining significant training in security and anti-terrorism-related affairs, leading to him being targeted in an assassination attempt by Al-Qaeda in 2009, he was promoted to minister of interior in 2012.
He is also known for being a philanthropist amid his support and supervision of a number of humanitarian and charity projects, in addition to his renowned devotion of time and support to the families of terrorist prisoners. (end) od.sd