Saudi King Sacks Half Brother, Appoints Nephew As New Heir Apparent

President Obama and Saudi King, Salman

King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz on Wednesday sacked his younger half brother as crown prince and appointed his nephew, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, as the new heir apparent. according to reports. It is believed to be the first time that one of the grandsons of Saudi Arabia's founder, rather than a son, has been appointed to this role.

King Salman who came to power in January, also appointed his son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as deputy crown prince, and replaced veteran foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal with the kingdom's Washington ambassador Adel al-Jubeir.