RIYADH: King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has appointed Prince Mit'eb Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz as new Commander of the National Guard. Prince Mit'eb will hold the rank of Minister of State and a Member of the Cabinet. The King also relieved Prince Badr Bin Abdul Aziz of his post as Deputy Commander of the National Guard at his request, according to a Royal Order issued Wednesday. The statement issued by the Royal Court ordered the relevant authorities to implement the order with immediate effect. Earlier this week, the King also handed over his traditional supervisory duties for the annual Haj pilgrimage to Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minster of Interior, because doctors advised him to rest after rupturing a disc in his back. Sandhurst-educated Prince Mit'eb, 57, has been with the National Guard for many years and was named deputy commander in June 2009. Bahrain's Chief of the National Guard Lt. Gen. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Isa Al-Khalifa sent a cable of congratulations to Prince Mit'eb on his new appointment. In his cable, Sheikh Mohammed also conveyed to the Prince the greetings of Bahrain's King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa and wished him all success.
