Saudi Crown Prince Nayef dead

Saudi Arabia’s state TV says 79-year-old Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, who was recently receiving medical treatment, has “died outside the kingdom.”

The state TV announced the death of Nayef, the half brother of Saudi King Abdullah, after a statement was issued by the Saudi royal court on Saturday.

The funeral is expected to be held on Sunday in the holy city of Mecca after Nayef’s body is returned.

Nayef was announced the new heir to the Saudi throne after the death of his full brother, former Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, at a New York hospital on October 22, 2011.

The 79-year-old Nayef, who was also the ling-serving interior minister of Saudi Arabia, recently left the kingdom for medical treatment and was seen in Switzerland a few days ago.

Nayef had also traveled for medical reasons to a few countries including Algeria and the United States this year. The nature of his illness has not been made public.

His brother, Prince Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz, was recently quoted as saying in a Saudi daily that the crown prince was in “good health” and that he would “soon” return to Saudi Arabia.

Next in line for the position of crown prince is expected to be Nayef’s younger brother, Prince Salman, who is the governor of the capital, Riyadh. However, no one has officially been announced to replace the dead crown prince.