Riyadh, Nov 6 (IANS): Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud appointed Prince Salman, the governor of Riyadh province, as the kingdom's new defence and aviation minister, following the death of former Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the state television reported Saturday.
The defence and aviation portfolio is regarded as one of the most important positions in the world's largest oil exporter, reported Xinhua.
Prince Salman, a half brother of the Saudi king, was born in 1935 and served as the governor of Riyadh since 1962. According to the TV report, Prince Sutam bin Abdul Aziz was named the Riyadh governor to succeed Prince Salman.
Crown Prince Sultan, who had been the deputy premier, minister of defence and aviation and the inspector general, passed away at dawn on Oct 22 in an US hospital after suffering from an illness.