JEDDAH, 16 November 2006 — Crown Prince Sultan yesterday clarified that the new succession law, which was issued on Oct. 20, was the brainchild of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah while he was crown prince. “He presented the idea to King Fahd through a letter dated Dul Qaada 2, 1404 explaining its legitimacy,” the crown prince told the Saudi Press Agency.
Sultan said King Fahd, who died on Aug. 1, 2005, replied to Abdullah saying he would study the idea. “Undoubtedly, all proposals made by your royal highness regarding (governing) systems are hopefully suitable and I will study them with you, especially the succession idea proposed by your royal highness,” Fahd said in his reply dated Dul Hijjah 18, 1404.
“This clearly shows that the idea came from King Abdullah...but the idea was not put into practice for reasons unknown...King Abdullah took over power and issued the new law during last Ramadan after conducting adequate studies,” Sultan said clarifying a statement he had made on the issue while addressing top commanders of the armed forces in Riyadh on Tuesday.
