Saudi Crown prince Nayef dies

Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz, next in line to the throne in Saudi Arabia, has died. He was in his late 70s.Prince Nayef, the Saudi interior minister who fought against Al Qaeda died in Geneva on Saturday. He was 78. Nayef’s death unexpectedly reopens the question of succession in this crucial U.S. ally and oil powerhouse for the second time in less than a year.

The 88-year-old King Abdullah has now outlived two designated successors, despite ailments of his own. Now a new crown prince must be chosen from among his brothers and half-brothers, all the sons of Saudi Arabia’s founder, Abdul-Aziz.

According to CTV News, the figure believed most likely to be tapped as the new heir is Prince Salman, the current defence minister who previously served for decades in the powerful post of governor of Riyadh, the capital. The crown prince will be chosen by the Allegiance Council, an assembly of Abdul-Aziz’s sons and some of his grandchildren