Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Defense, and Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Riyadh region, took oaths of office before King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, at a ceremony here Sunday. Prince Salman and Prince Sattam thanked the King for his confidence and prayed to Allah to help them to fulfill their duties. Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Defense Minister, also thanked the King for the confidence reposed in him. The King received princes, ulema, sheikhs, ministers and groups of citizens who came to greet and congratulate him on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha. On Saturday, King Abdullah issued a number of Royal Orders appointing Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz as Minister of Defense, Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz as Emir of Riyadh region at the rank of minister and Prince Mohammed Bin Saad Bin Abdul Aziz as his deputy at the rank of minister. Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense at the rank of minister. Prince Saud Bin Naif Bin Abdul Aziz was appointed Head of the Crown Prince Court and Special Advisor to the Crown Prince at the rank of minister. Prince Abdul Rahman Bin Abdul Aziz was relieved of his post as Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation. Ali Bin Ibrahim Al-Hadeethi was relieved of his post as Head of the Crown Prince Court, and Mohammed Bin Salem Al-Marri was relieved of his post as Special Secretary to the Crown Prince. He has been replaced by Abdul Rahman Bin Ali Al-Rubai'an at the rank of minister. The King also issued orders to rename the Ministry of Defense, Aviation and General Inspection as the Ministry of Defense. The Royal Orders also split the Defense Ministry from the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA). Prince Fahd Bin Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al-Saud has been appointed as Chairman of the General Commission for Civil Aviation at the rank of minister and Dr. Faisal Bin Hamad Al-Suqair as his deputy at the excellent rank. The Royal Order said the board of Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) would be restructured. The Royal Order also said the new civil aviation authority would come under the direct control of the Prime Minister. On Sunday, Crown Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, read a speech on behalf of King Abdullah extending heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha to ulema, sheikhs, commanders of security and military forces and scouts participating in Haj services. “You brave men, you have inherited noble values from your forefathers. You are descendants of the men of unity who stood by their leader, King Abdul Aziz, (May Allah rest his soul in peace) in his long hard journey and struggle, which led to the unity of the country. Thus, the banner of no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger is flying high over this land, and Allah will never disappoint those who uphold this banner. By maintaining this position you are embodying the noblest meaning of loyalty to the Faith and country,” the King said.
