RIYADH, Sept 1 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Saudi Arabia's King Fahd has appointed former interior minister Prince Nawaf Ben Abdel Aziz as the new head of the kingdom's intelligence services, according to official reports issued Friday, news agencies reported.
The king issued a decree appointing Aziz, also his brother, to the post and relieved his predecessor, Prince Turki al-Faisal, "at his request," said the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
No details were available on the changes to the intelligence services.
The Pan-Arab London-based daily Al Quds Al Arabi linked the replacement to recent bombings in Saudi Arabia which targeted Western interests, and to armed incidents at the Saudi-Iraqi borders which caused the death of two people (an Iraqi and a Saudi).
"Security sources in Dubai linked the sudden decision to the shortcomings of the security bodies which led to a number of security downfalls during the last few years," said the paper.
The paper cited as an example the Riyadh bombing in 1995 in which five American soldiers were killed, and the Khobar explosion in 1996 where 19 American soldiers were killed and more than 500 injured.
Al Quds Al Arabi cited Western papers as saying that some members of the royal family allegedly support a liquor trafficking mafia in Saudi Arabia - whose revenues reach tens of millions of dollars.
On the other hand, the paper felt that Prince Aziz's appointment is an indication to the start of Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz's grip on sensitive posts in the country.
Prince Nawaf is the third director of Saudi intelligence since the agency was established in mid-1960s, reported the Saudi daily, Arab News.
The late Kamal Adham was the first director before Prince Turki took over in 1977.
Prince Nawaf worked as finance minister for two years during the time of King Saud and represented the kingdom at many international events. He was adviser to King Faisal on Gulf affairs and was head of the Royal Court.
