Special to WorldTribune.com
ABU DHABI — Amid an upsurge in regional turmoil centering on Iraq and Syria, Saudi King Abdullah has again fired his de facto defense chief.
On June 28, Abdullah issued a decree that dismissed Deputy Defense Minister Prince Bandar Bin Abdul Aziz.
This marked the second time in as many months that the king replaced the deputy defense minister.
“This royal order shall be instructed to the competent authorities for implementation,” the decree said.
The decree said the removal of Bandar was taken in consultation with Defense Minister Prince Salman, who is also crown prince and believed to be suffering from dementia. No reason was given for the sudden dismissal, which came within a week of the king’s return from a vacation from Morocco.
Khaled, a former governor of Riyad, was appointed deputy defense
minister on May 14. He replaced Prince Salman Bin Sultan, who served less
than a year in the post. In all, Saudi Arabia has gone through four deputy
defense ministers in 18 months.
No successor to Khaled was announced. Abdullah also dismissed State
Minister Saud Bin Said Al Muthami, replaced by Mohammed Bin Faisal Abu Saq.
Saudi king sacks defense chief for second time in two months added by World Tribune on
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