Riyadh: Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz, who was appointed heir to the Saudi throne, has developed a reputation as a conservative with close ties to the religious establishment but a pragmatist to the core.
Former diplomats, local journalists and other members of the ruling family who have dealt with the prince paint a softer portrait of a man who has been at the centre of Saudi politics for more than three decades.
"Many things are said about Prince Nayef, but I find him to be a very kind man [who keeps] a foot on the ground by meeting people," said Khalid Al Maeena, editor at large of the Arab News daily in Jeddah. "He has the pulse of the nation."
Anti-terror record
"Nayef is widely seen as a hardline conservative who at best is lukewarm to King Abdullah's reform initiatives," said a 2009 US diplomatic appraisal of the prince revealed by WikiLeaks.
"However, it would be more accurate to describe him as a conservative pragmatist convinced that security and stability are imperative to preserve Al Saud rule and ensure prosperity for Saudi citizens."
US President Barack Obama Friday congratulated the Saudi King on the selection of Prince Nayef, noting the new crown prince's counter-terrorism record.
"I congratulate King Abdullah and the Saudi people on the selection of Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz as crown prince. We in the United States know and respect him for his strong commitment to combating terrorism and supporting regional peace and security," Obama said in a statement.
