Saudis seek pragmatic heir for troubled times

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah prepared to bury his heir, Prince Nayef bin Abdel-Aziz, yesterday before naming a new successor at a challenging time for the world’s top oil exporter and self-styled steward of Islam.

The crown prince’s body arrived in Jeddah yesterday a day after his death, where it was met at King Khaled Airport by a host of Saudi princes.

Among them was the most likely candidate to take the position to succeed the king is Prince Salman, 76, another son of Saudi Arabia’s founder Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud.