Saudi king reforms succession rules: report

Saudi Arabia has set up a new rule to choose future monarchs, Kuwait-based daily Arab Times reported Saturday.

Under a new decree by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, a new committee called the Allegiance Association would vote by secret ballot to choose future kings and crown princes, the report said.

The committee is scheduled to meet on choosing a new crown prince, picking one from three candidates.

Both nominee and committee membership are due to be descendants of Saudi Arabia's founder King Abdul-Aziz al Saud, who died in 1953 and passed the monarch to his son.

The new rule does not apply to King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan, but to the latter's successor.

Crown Prince Sultan, the Saudi king's 77-year-old brother, has been slated to take over the kingship upon the 81-year-old monarch 's death.

Sultan stepped in as crown prince after then crown prince Abdullah succeeded his half brother King Fahd, who died last year, as Saudi king.

Source: Xinhua