Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Wednesday appointed his son Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince, according to a royal decree carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
The decree removed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef - the king's 57-year-old nephew - and replaced him with Mohammed bin Salman, 31, who was previously the deputy crown prince, SPA reported.
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Trump, Tillerson, Ross sword dance in Saudi Arabia
US President Donald Trump and White House officials take part in a ceremonial sword dance in Saudi Arabia.
The move marks a stark upheaval in the leadership of the wealthy kingdom, a key ally of the United States and the Arab world's largest economy.
The newly-appointed crown prince was also named deputy prime minister and maintained his post as defence minister, according to SPA.
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Mohammed bin Salman, who has close links with the US, is seen as a powerful figure in the kingdom and has been leading Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen.
He emerged from relative obscurity when his father ascended the throne in 2015, and he has since accumulated vast powers, overseeing the state oil company and launching a vast effort to reform the Saudi economy.
His supporters praise him as hard-working and say he offers a hopeful vision for the kingdom's future, especially for its younger population. His critics have called him rash, inexperienced and power-hungry.
His cousin, Mohammed bin Nayef, was widely respected by Saudis and their foreign allies for dismantling al-Qaeda's networks inside the kingdom. Wednesday's decrees removed him both from his place as next in line to the throne and from his post as interior minister.
According to the Dubai-based broadcaster al-Arabiya television, the appointment of Mohammed bin Salman was approved by the kingdom's Allegiance Council and a public pledging of loyalty for him will be held on Wednesday evening.
The council voted 34 to 31 in favour of the new changes, according to al-Arabiya.
DPA, New York Times