JEDDAH – King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, issued a Royal Order Monday relieving Prince Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz from his post as Minister of Interior upon his request and appointing Prince Muhammad Bin Naif Bin Abdul Aziz as Minister of Interior. The Royal Order instructed the authorities concerned to carry out the order with immediate effect. The decision is based on a letter dated Nov. 5, 2012 (20/12/1433H) sent by Prince Ahmad requesting that he be relieved from his post. Prince Muhammad has been Deputy Interior Minister responsible for security for many years. He has been spearheading the efforts to crush Al-Qaeda in the Kingdom. He has been commended by Western intelligence agencies for Saudi Arabia's counter-terrorism programs. Concerning struggle against terrorism, he adopts a policy of the iron fist like his father, the late Prince Naif. In June 2003, Al-Qaeda member Abdul Rahman Al-Ghamdi surrendered to him in person. In October 2010, he alerted US Deputy National Security Adviser about the 2010 cargo plane bomb plot. On August 27, 2009, he was slightly injured by Abdullah Hassan Al-Asiri, a suicide bomber linked to Al-Qaeda. In November 2009, King Abdullah appointed Prince Muhammad as a member to the Supreme Economic Council. Prince Ahmad was appointed Interior Minister on June 18, 2012, after the death of Prince Naif. He also served as the Deputy Governor of Makkah region during the reign of King Faisal. Later, King Khaled appointed him as the Deputy Minister of Interior in 1975. – SG/SPA
