Army chief congratulates Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Nayef

Army chief is reported to have telephoned Prince Mohammed as he was appointed deputy prime minister of the kingdom

Army chief General Raheel Sharif congratulated on Saturday Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Nayef on his appointment as deputy prime minister of the kingdom.

The army chief is reported to have telephoned Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, according to Express News.

Matters of bilateral relations were discussed during the phone conversation.

On April 29, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman named his powerful Interior Minister as heir to the throne and a son as second in line, under a shakeup that also saw the world’s longest-serving foreign minister replaced.

Read: Saudi king names new heir to throne in govt shakeup

A royal decree removed Crown Prince Moqren bin Abdul Aziz bin Saud and replaced him with Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who headed a crackdown on al Qaeda a decade ago.

“We have decided to respond to his highness and what he had expressed about his desire to be relieved from the position of crown prince,” said a statement from the royal court, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Read: Saudi Arabia names 'Al Qaeda crusher' as new Interior Minister

It added that Moqren was also relieved of his position as deputy prime minister in the world’s largest oil exporter.

The decree named “Prince Mohammed bin Nayef as crown prince” as well as deputy prime minister and said he will continue to hold his position of interior minister and head of the political and security council, a coordinating body.