Saudi Arabia sacks army chief

Saudi King Abdullah has announced the retirement of the chief of the General Staff of the Saudi Arabian Army Field Marshal Saleh al-Muhaya (pictured above).

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/181095.html

Saudi Arabia has appointed new officials to several key posts after dismissing their predecessors.

Saudi King Abdullah issued a decree on Friday, announcing the retirement of the chief of staff of the Saudi armed forces, Field Marshal Saleh al-Muhaya, AFP reported.

The decree, published by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, also assigned Muhaya's deputy, Gen. Hussein bin Abdullah al-Qubail, as his successor, and promoted Gen. Khaled bin Bander bin Abdelaziz Al Saud to head the Saudi army.

The order also dismissed the president of the administrative court, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Haqil, and the deputy minister of higher education, Ali al-Attiya.

A cabinet reshuffle has been expected for several weeks in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has not been immune from the wave of anti-government protests that have swept across North Africa and the Middle East.

There have been a number of demonstrations in the country recently in defiance of a ban on any public gatherings.

Human rights activists say thousands of people are held in Saudi jails without charge or access to lawyers.