Daily Mail: Saudi King to Step down next Week

Local Editor

The British Daily Mail reported Thursday that the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz will retire next week and announce his son, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman, as his successor.

Quoting a source close to the Saudi royal family who spoke exclusively with the paper, the paper stated that King Salman would continue to serve as a ceremonial leader, "like the Queen of England," but would transfer the official role of the country's leadership to his son.

The report said it was the last step of 32-year-old Prince Mohammad bin Salman on his way to a formal takeover of Saudi Arabia, which has been shaken by political turmoil in recent weeks over the arrest of more than 40 princes and senior ministers as part of an anti-corruption campaign.

"Unless something dramatic happens, King Salman will announce the appointment of MBS as King of Saudi Arabia next week," the source told the Daily Mail. "King Salman will play the role of the queen of England. He will only keep the title "Custodian of the Holy Shrines."

The source added that after he is crowned king, Prince Mohammad bin Salman would focus mainly on Iran.

He added that the new king would also attempt enlist the support of the "Israeli" entity against Hezbollah.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team