DUSHANBE, June 18, 2012, Asia-Plus – President Emomali Rahmon has presented condolences to King Abdallah Bin Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia in connection with the death of Crown Prince Nayef, the president’s official website reports.

Referring to the royal court, international media sources reported that Saudi Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, a half brother of King Abdullah, died on Saturday.  

Prince Nayef, a long-serving interior minister, died outside Saudi Arabia having recently left the Gulf state for medical treatment, said a statement carried by state media, including Al-Ekhbariyah Television and SPA news agency.

ITAR-TASS reports that his possible successor is 76-year-old brother, Prince Salman, 76, who took over the portfolio of defense minister.

The new crown prince needs approval by the Allegiance Council.  The monarch reportedly established the allegiance council, a body of about 30 senior princes, as a new succession mechanism aimed in the long term to choose the crown prince in 2006.