Saudi King Abdullah named his son Prince Mitaeb bin Abdullah a member of the council of ministers and head of the national guard on Wednesday, the kingdom's second army commanded from the palace. In the announcement carried by the official SPA news agency, the king also accepted the resignation "for health reasons" of his brother Prince Badr bin Abdul Aziz as deputy head of the national guard.
Sandhurst-educated Mitaeb, 57, has been with the national guard for many years and was named deputy commander in June 2009.