Saudi King Reshuffles Defense Posts

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah on Wednesday reshuffled top defense posts, removing the deputy minister and the chief of staff, state news agency SPA reported.

He also appointed his son Prince Turki as governor of Riyadh region, SPA said.

Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz was removed from his post as deputy defense minister "upon his request," SPA said, citing a royal decree.

He was replaced by Prince Khaled bin Bandar bin Abdul Aziz, the governor of Riyadh.

The outgoing deputy minister is a son of the late Crown Prince Sultan, who served as a defense minister for nearly five decades.

SPA said the king also removed the chief of staff, General Hussein al-Qabeel, who was retiring, and replaced him with his deputy. General Fayad al-Rawyli.

The defense overhaul came a month after the king removed the oil-rich Gulf state's powerful intelligence chief, Prince Bandar bin Sultan.