King Fahd removes chairman of the intelligence department from his post

King Fahd of Saudi Arabia issued a royal decision for removing the chairman of the general intelligence prince Nawaf Bin Abdul Aziz from his post and appointing him as a special advisor for the royal court at the grade of a minister.

The decree which was issued by the Saudi news agency said that the decision which was issued on Wednesday evening came at the request of Prince Nawaf. The decree did not say who will succeed the prince in leading the intelligence department.

The prince assumed the presidency of the intelligence in Saudi Arabia in succession of prince Turkey al-Faisal in 2001 after the latter spent 25 years in this post.

Prince Nawaf ( 73 year old), half brother for the King and the crown prince Abdullah, suffers health problems. He was admitted to hospital in Riyadh to make routine medical checks for several days in October 2004. He also underwent a surgery in the same year for brain hemorrhaging.