Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz issued a decree on Tuesday relieving intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan of his post and appointing his deputy Youssef al-Idrissi as acting head of intelligence, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

“Prince Bandar was relieved of his post at his own request and General Youssef al-Idrissi was asked to carry out the duties
of the head of general intelligence,” the state news agency added.

“The royal order will be carried out by the concerned authorities with immediate effect,” SPA added.

Prince Bandar, a former ambassador to Washington, was appointed as Chief of General Intelligence in July 2012 and has worked to help the Syrian Free Army (FSA) bring down President Bashar al-Assad.

In October last year he warned of a “major shift” away from Washington after President Barack Obama, who visited Riyadh in March, decided against bombing Assad's forces following a chemical weapons attack in Damascus.

Prince Bandar has been on medical leave since early this year and was reported to have undergone a convalescence period in Morocco. He reportedly returned to Riyadh last month.