RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 29 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia's King Salman rearranged the line of succession to the throne and replaced several heads of ministries in a televised decree Wednesday in Riyadh.
Salman replaced King Abdullah, who died in January, and the moves suggest he is shifting away from Abdullah's legacy. He elevated Muhammad Bin Nayef to crown prince, replacing after Prince Muqrin, the king's brother, requested to step down, the royal court announced. Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, current defense minister and the king's son, was named deputy crown prince, and thus is second in line to the throne; he replaces Prince Saud al-Faisal as foreign minister.