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Saudi king replaces energy minister, naming one of his sons

FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2018 photo, Abdullah Morsi, the youngest son of Egypt's jailed former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, sits in front of a framed image of his father that was printed on a flag during the 2013 Rabaah al-Adawiya sit-in, at his home in Cairo, Egypt. Physicians said 25-year-old Abdullah Morsi died of a heart attack shortly after arriving in hospital Wednesday, Sept 4, 2019. His father collapsed and died in a Cairo court in June. (AP Photo/Brian Rohan, File) (Brian Rohan / AP)
Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has replaced the country’s energy minister with one of his own sons, naming Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman to one of the most important positions in the kingdom.

Khalid al-Falih was replaced as energy minister just days after losing his position as board chairman of the state-owned oil giant Aramco. Al-Falih also saw his portfolio diminished last week when a new ministry of mining and industry was created, removing that sector from the purview of the energy ministry.

New Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz is an older half-brother to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and formerly minister of state of energy affairs. The two brothers are not believed to be close.

The change was announced early Sunday in a royal decree published by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.