Prince Salman named Saudi heir

Prince Salman - the new heir apparent to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Current ruler King Abdullah appointed Salman as his successor after the death of his older brother Crown Prince Nayef.

Salman, 76, is likely to assume substantial day-to-day responsibilities from the king, 13 years his senior.

Since the death of King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, the country's founding father, succession has moved along a line of his sons.

Salman is Abdullah's third heir after the deaths of two older brothers: Crown Prince Sultan last October and Crown Prince Nayef last Saturday.

At stake is the future direction of a country that sits on more than one fifth of the world's proven global oil reserves.

As crown prince and later as king, Salman will have to tackle challenges ranging from an al Qaeda security threat to systemic joblessness at a time of unparalleled Middle Eastern turmoil, all set against a regional rivalry with Shi'ite Iran.

From 1962 until last year, Prince Salman served as governor of Riyadh, a position that gave him more contact with foreign governments than many other senior royals.

As crown prince, Salman will serve as deputy prime minister to King Abdullah.

Sarah Sheffer, Reuters