INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
expected because the cabinet must be replaced and reappointed every four years, the government said on Friday, giving a technocratic
explanation to a move seen by critics as an attempt at crisis management.The assertion was issued by the government communications office
after the king elevated veteran government figures to key cabinet positions on Thursday, including installing a former finance minister to
head the foreign ministry.The position of national security adviser went to a Harvard-educated son of Saudi Arabia's first intelligence
chief who has also long been a fixture in the royal court.Most other ministers remained in their roles and some allies of King Salman's
son and heir, Crown Prince Mohammed, 33, were also promoted.Analysts said the moves were aimed at reversing the damage done to the image of
the government by the murder of United States -based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.A
statement by the communications office cited the Saudi official as saying the reshuffle reflected routine technocratic considerations and
came at the end of the cabinet's four-year term, as required by law."The reshuffle is designed to ensure that the Cabinet has the best
combination of the experience and know-how to meet the needs of the Kingdom over the coming four years and strengthen our relations with
friendly countries around the world," the official was cited as saying in the statement.(Except for the headline, this story has not been
edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
