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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Saudi ambassador quits Washington | Saudi ambassador quits Washington |
| (8 days later) | |
| The Saudi Arabian ambassador to the US, Prince Turki al-Faisal, has abruptly resigned and left Washington after just 15 months in the job. | The Saudi Arabian ambassador to the US, Prince Turki al-Faisal, has abruptly resigned and left Washington after just 15 months in the job. |
| Saudi officials said he wanted to spend more time with his family. | |
| There are suggestions that he may be promoted to foreign minister, or that he resigned over differences with officials in Riyadh. | There are suggestions that he may be promoted to foreign minister, or that he resigned over differences with officials in Riyadh. |
| The post of ambassador to Washington is one of the most important for Saudi foreign relations. | The post of ambassador to Washington is one of the most important for Saudi foreign relations. |
| In recent years, the US-Saudi relations have occasionally been uneasy. | In recent years, the US-Saudi relations have occasionally been uneasy. |
| Saudi Arabia opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq, and has been dismayed by events across its northern border since. | Saudi Arabia opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq, and has been dismayed by events across its northern border since. |
| US-Saudi relations became strained after it was revealed that most of the hijackers involved in the 11 September attacks came from Saudi Arabia. | US-Saudi relations became strained after it was revealed that most of the hijackers involved in the 11 September attacks came from Saudi Arabia. |
| Theories | Theories |
| BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says there are two possible reasons for his sudden resignation. | BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says there are two possible reasons for his sudden resignation. |
| His elder brother, Prince Saud al-Faisal - his country's foreign minister for over 30 years - has been unwell for some time, and there's speculation that Prince Turki might succeed him. | His elder brother, Prince Saud al-Faisal - his country's foreign minister for over 30 years - has been unwell for some time, and there's speculation that Prince Turki might succeed him. |
| However, a different and perhaps more plausible theory is that, as ambassador in Washington, Prince Turki felt he had not been getting sufficient support back home in Riyadh. | However, a different and perhaps more plausible theory is that, as ambassador in Washington, Prince Turki felt he had not been getting sufficient support back home in Riyadh. |
| In particular, our correspondent says, it has been reported that he resented continuing interference from his predecessor in the post, Prince Bandar bin Sultan. | In particular, our correspondent says, it has been reported that he resented continuing interference from his predecessor in the post, Prince Bandar bin Sultan. |
| The two men could scarcely be more different - Prince Bandar is worldly, extrovert and brash, while Prince Turki is urbane, courtly and low-key. | The two men could scarcely be more different - Prince Bandar is worldly, extrovert and brash, while Prince Turki is urbane, courtly and low-key. |
| Whatever the reasons behind it, Prince Turki's departure leaves a void in US-Saudi relations at a moment when the Middle East faces crises on several fronts, our correspondent says. | Whatever the reasons behind it, Prince Turki's departure leaves a void in US-Saudi relations at a moment when the Middle East faces crises on several fronts, our correspondent says. |