King Abdullah appointed a son, Prince Turki bin Abdullah, as governor of Riyadh Province on Wednesday, strengthening his branch of the ruling dynasty as it approaches a difficult decision on how to transfer power to the next generation. Another son, Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah, was made governor of Mecca Province months ago. The line of succession does not pass directly from father to son but has moved along a line of brothers since the 1950s. As that line nears its end, with King Abdullah over 90, the dynasty is grappling with how to move the succession down to the next generation of the family. Besides appointing sons as governors of two of the three most important provinces in the country, Abdullah has made another son deputy foreign minister. His most senior son, and the one seen as most likely to one day become king, is Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, head of the Saudi Arabian National Guard.
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(via NY Times)
