Deposed Saudi crown prince confined to palace
Source: Reuters
Deposed Saudi crown prince confined to palace
Saudi officials deny claims Mohammed bin Nayef is under house arrest while power transition takes effect
Martin Chulov in Beirut
Thursday 29 June 2017 11.14 BST
The deposed Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Nayef, has been confined to his palace in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, as his young successor seeks to consolidate his newfound power, two sources close to the royal family have confirmed.
The movements of the former heir to the throne have been restricted since Mohammed bin Salman, 31, replaced his uncle as crown prince last week, ensuring that he, instead of the 57-year-old security tsar whom he ousted, would eventually succeed his father as ruler.
Senior Saudi officials denied Nayef was under house arrest, with one describing the claim first reported in the New York Times as not true at all. Another official, however, said: Its just in the changeover period. MBS [bin Salman] does not want to take any risks. It is not house arrest. Nothing like that at all.
Bin Nayef had been the kingdoms most influential security official over the past 15 years. He had maintained close intelligence connections with the US and UK and was seen by Saudi allies as an assured and trusted hand.
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Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/29/deposed-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-nayef-confined-to-palace