Jun 30 2017 : The Times of India (Chennai)
Deposed Saudi prince may have been confined to palace
Ben Hubbard, Eric Schmitt & Mark Mazzetti
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Beirut
NYT & AGENCIES
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The recently deposed crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Nayef, has been barred from leaving the kingdom and confined to his palace in the coastal city of Jidda, according to four current and former American officials and Saudis close to the royal family .The new restrictions on the man who until last week was next in line to the throne and ran the kingdom's powerful internal security services sought to limit any potential opposition for the new crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, 31, the officials said.
It was unclear how long the restrictions would remain in place. An adviser to the Saudi royal court referred queries to the information ministry , whose officials could not immediately be reached for comment. A senior official in the Saudi foreign ministry described the account as “baseless and false“ on Wednesday night.
The official expressed shock at the report, and sug gested that Mohammed bin Nayef may seek legal action against the newspaper.
“What was published by the New York Times is untrue, completely false, and baseless,“ the official said. “His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and his family is moving freely and hosting his guests unrestrictedly.Nothing has changed for Prince Mohammed, except for stepping down from his government positions,“ he said.
The Saudi king Salman shook up the line of succession with royal decrees that promoted his son, Mohammed bin Salman, to crown prince and removed Mohammed bin Nayef from the line of succession.
It was unclear how long the restrictions would remain in place. An adviser to the Saudi royal court referred queries to the information ministry , whose officials could not immediately be reached for comment. A senior official in the Saudi foreign ministry described the account as “baseless and false“ on Wednesday night.
The official expressed shock at the report, and sug gested that Mohammed bin Nayef may seek legal action against the newspaper.
“What was published by the New York Times is untrue, completely false, and baseless,“ the official said. “His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and his family is moving freely and hosting his guests unrestrictedly.Nothing has changed for Prince Mohammed, except for stepping down from his government positions,“ he said.
The Saudi king Salman shook up the line of succession with royal decrees that promoted his son, Mohammed bin Salman, to crown prince and removed Mohammed bin Nayef from the line of succession.
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