Crown Prince Nayef death reopens succession question in Saudi Arabia

Published on 17/06/2012 00:00

CROWN Prince Nayef, who rose to become next in line to the throne of Saudi Arabia in October 2011, after the death of his brother Sultan, has died.

He was in his late 70s. With a reputation for being a hard-liner and a conservative, as interior minister, Nayef spearheaded Saudi Arabia’s fierce crackdown crushing al-Qaeda’s branch in the country after the 9/11 attacks.

Nayef’s death unexpectedly reopens the question of succession in the crucial US 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.