Analysts said the change empowers Prince Mohammed bin Salman to move faster with his plan to reduce the kingdom’s reliance on oil, which includes the partial privatisation of state oil company Aramco. This April 2016 photo shows deposed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, King Salman, and new Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after Saudi Arabia's cabinet agreed to implement a broad reform plan known as Vision 2030. The decree said Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, long a favourite of Washington for his tough stance against Islamist militancy, is relieved of all positions. Prince Mohammed bin Nayef is admired in Washington for putting down an al Qaeda campaign of bombings in 2003-06 as the Saudi counter-terrorism chief. Reuters file photoThe Saudi state television reported on Wednesday that Prince Mohammed bin Nayef has pledged allegiance to the kingdom's new crown prince.

Source: bd News24 June 21, 2017 04:03 UTC