Saudi Arabia sets up state security agency

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman issued a decree Thursday setting up a new security agency for the oil-rich kingdom which will be overseen by him directly, the SPA news agency said.

The new agency, which will be headed by intelligence chief General Abdel Aziz bin Mohammed al-Houeiriny, would manage several departments of the interior ministry, the state-run SPA said.

The department of intelligence and the units tasked with fighting terrorism would work under the authority of the new agency.

ReadSaudi security forces foil terror attack on Grand Mosque

King Salman also issued a series of royal decrees on Thursday, including one sacking the head of the royal guard, General Hamad al-Awhaly, and replacing him with General Suheil al-Mutiri.

He also appointed Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Qweiz as the new head of the Saudi stock exchange.

The latest decisions come nearly a month after King Salman ousted his nephew as crown prince and installed his son Mohammed bin Salman, 31, as his successor.

 

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