Saudi govt arrests 20 more princes, Arab media claims

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Saudi govt arrests 20 more princes, Arab media claims

Riyadh: Arab media claimed the arrest of 20 more princes by Saudi government after the arrest of three senior members of the royal family.

According to Arab news agency, King Salman’s brother Prince Ahmad bin Abdul Aziz, was arrested yesterday on a charge of plotting a rebellion against his nephew, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS), after which 20 more were accused of being part of the plot.

Arab media reported that those arrested have been accused of contacting foreign forces, including Americans, for the uprising. According to Arab media, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz signed the arrest warrant. Media quoted foreign news agency as saying that more than 20 princes have been arrested in connection with the coup plot.

Remember that two days ago Saudi government arrested three prominent members of the royal family. The detained members include King Salman’s brother Prince Ahmad bin Abdul Aziz, Mohammad bin Nayef and Nawaf bin Nayef.

Saudi Arabia detains top three members of royal family

The royal members were detained from their homes by the Saudi guards. In November 2017, the ruling corruption committee had arrested eleven princes, four ministers and several former ministers, on the orders of Shah Salman.

With arrest of the richest prince, Al-Waleed bin Talal, the profitability rate in the Saudi stock market fell by 1.5% while shares of Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal’s company fell by 9.9%.

KING SUPPORTS HIS SON

Saudi insiders and Western diplomats say the family is unlikely to oppose the crown prince while the king is alive, saying the monarch would not turn against his favorite son, to whom he has delegated most responsibilities of rule.

Prince Ahmed has kept a low profile since returning to Riyadh in October 2018 after 2-1/2 months abroad. Saudi watchers have said there is no evidence he is willing to take the throne. During that trip abroad, he appeared to criticize the Saudi leadership while responding to protesters outside a London residence chanting for the downfall of the Al Saud dynasty.

Ahmed was one of only three people on the Allegiance Council, made up of the family’s senior members, who opposed MbS becoming crown prince in 2017, sources have earlier said.

The crown prince has been lauded for easing social restrictions in the conservative Muslim kingdom and trying to diversify the economy away from oil.

On the other hand, he has come under international criticism over the Yemen war, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate, and the detention of women’s rights activists seen as part of a crackdown on dissent.

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