A number of governors, ministers and senior officials as well as foreign dignitaries yesterday congratulated Prince Salman on his appointment as crown prince, deputy premier and minister of defense. The newly appointed Interior Minister Prince Ahmed also received similar congratulatory messages.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah made the new appointments on Monday following the death of Crown Prince Naif. King Abdullah, meanwhile, arrived in Jeddah after spending two days in Taif where he received a number of world leaders including King Juan Carlos of Spain, Bahrain’s King Hamad and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhammad Najib.

On arrival at his palace in Jeddah, King Abdullah was received by Crown Prince Salman, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, other princes and officials.

A number of foreign dignitaries visited Kingdom yesterday to convey condolences on the death of Prince Naif. They include Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Prince Andrew and Defense Secretary Philip Hammond of UK, Danish Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, Ras Al-Khaima ruler Sheikh Saud Al-Qasimi, Kuwaiti Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al-Saadoun, Lebanese leader Walid Jumblat, former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Guinean Vice President Osman Bah.

In a related development, Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan, Education Minister Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, Hail Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdul Mohsen, Eastern Province Gov. Prince Muhammad bin Fahd, Baha Gov. Prince Mishari bin Saud, Asir Gov. Prince Faisal bin Khaled, Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed, and other princes and officials congratulated Prince Salman and Prince Ahmed.

The Eastern Province governor described Prince Salman as a unique personality having great leadership qualities. “He is a most respectable and humble person,” the governor said in his statement.

For Education Minister Prince Faisal, Crown Prince Salman is “a man of politics and sound judgment.” Prince Abdul Mohsen described the new crown prince as a walking encyclopedia with a heart full of faith and humanity. “The appointment of Prince Salman brings glad tidings about the Kingdom’s bright future,” the Hail governor said.

Dr. Abdullatif Al-Asheikh, president of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, and Housing Minister Dr. Shuwaish Al-Dowaihi also congratulated Prince Salman and Prince Ahmed. In the Northern Border Province, Gov. Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz bin Musaed will receive citizens on Saturday to express their allegiance to Crown Prince Salman, an announcement said yesterday.

Meanwhile, many high-ranking Saudi officials have expressed their deep sorrow over the death of Prince Naif.

They expressed happiness over the appointment of Prince Salman as the new crown prince and Prince Ahmed as interior minister.

Maj. Gen. Adel Zamzami, director general of Civil Defense in the Makkah province, underscored Prince Naif’s endeavors in strengthening the Kingdom’s security.

He said: "We have in Prince Ahmed a better successor for Prince Naif.

“While extending our condolences to Prince Ahmed on the death of his brother, we wish him every success in his new career as interior minister.”

He noted Prince Ahmed’s experience in the field as Prince Naif’s right-hand man.
Zamzami said he had an opportunity to accompany Prince Ahmed when he visited Pakistan to see the destruction caused by an earthquake there.

“During the trip I observed his great humanitarian qualities as well as his Islamic spirit,” he said.

Dr. Sami Badawood, director of health in Jeddah, congratulated Prince Salman on his appointment as crown prince, deputy premier and minister of defense, saying he won the confidence of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah as a result of his achievements.

He also congratulated Prince Ahmed on his new appointment.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Fowzan, a professor in sociology and dean of the Institute of Research and Consultancy Services at Hail University, emphasized the importance of security for the progress of any country and described Prince Naif as the Kingdom’s security engineer.

“He confronted national and international security challenges with courage and farsightedness.”

According to Al-Fowzan, Prince Naif had given priority to the security of citizens and strengthened the Kingdom’s security by appointing qualified hands.

“Prince Naif transformed the Interior Ministry into a developmental organization that has carried out a number of educational and health projects.”

He congratulated Prince Salman on his new appointment as crown prince.

In a similar statement, Gen. Zamim Al-Sawat, director general of Border Guards, said Prince Naif, who was interior minister for 37 years, deserved full credit for strengthening the Kingdom’s security.

He prayed Allah allowed Prince Naif to enter His Paradise as a reward for his services to the nation and humanity.

He expressed happiness over the appointment of Prince Salman as crown prince and Prince Ahmed as interior minister.

Maj. Gen. Awad Al-Balawi, assistant director general of Border Guards for marine affairs, expressed his condolences over the death of Prince Naif.

He said: “Yesterday we lost Prince Naif, who had dedicated his life in the service of the nation.

“Today, the two royal decrees issued by the king appointing Prince Salman as crown prince and Prince Ahmed as interior minister have reduced our pain.”

Al-Balawi described Prince Salman as a man capable of handling difficult tasks and said Prince Ahmed was the right appointment as Prince Naif’s successor.