Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz dies in USA

Crown Prince Sultan, who was around 86, had been in the United States for medical treatment since June. His death has thrown his brother Prince Nayef into line to succeed King Abdullah as leader of the key oil producer country.

Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz has died, a palace announcement on state television said on Saturday, throwing his brother Prince Nayef into line to succeed King Abdullah as leader of the key oil producer.

The crown prince, aged around 86, who had served as the kingdom’s defence chief for nearly five decades, had been in the United States since mid-June for medical treatment. He was operated on in July but no information had been released on his health since then.

"With deep sorrow and sadness the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz mourns the death of his brother and his Crown Prince Sultan... who died at dawn this morning outside the kingdom following an illness," said the statement carried by state-run news agency SPA.
Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, deputy premier and minister of defence and aviation, died today abroad, a statement from the Saudi Arabian Royal Court announced.