EURONEWS: New Saudi King Salman appoints half-brother Muqrin as crown prince and heir

  

The new Saudi Arabian King Salman has named his half-brother Muqrin as successor to the throne. Salman, who is believed to be 79, has already appeared on state television to address the nation and express his condolences over the demise of his half-brother King Abdullah. He died early on Friday after suffering from a short bout of pneumonia. Abdullah, thought to be 90, had ruled Saudi Arabia as king since 2006, but had run the country as de facto regent for a decade before that.