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Saudi Crown Prince Dies


Saudi Interior Minister and Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdel Aziz in November 2011
Saudi Interior Minister and Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdel Aziz in November 2011
The Saudi royal family says Crown Prince Nayef, the next in line to the throne, has died.

He was in his late 70s.

The June 16 statement from King Abdullah says the prince will be buried in Mecca on June 17.

State-run Al-Ekhbariyah Television said Nayef "died in a hospital outside the kingdom."

He had been ill for months and receiving treatment in Switzerland.

Nayef had been interior minister since 1975 and spearheaded Saudi Arabia's crackdown on Al-Qaeda's branch in the country.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa

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