Saudi Arabia releases video to ‘prove’ Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is alive after assassination and coup rumours
The kingdom’s arch enemy Iran has been reporting rumours that the prince was killed in an attempt to topple him.
SAUDI Arabia has been forced to release a video to “prove” the reformist Crown Prince has not been assassinated.
The footage was published to quash rumours claiming Muhammad bin Sulmanhad was killed last month in a coup attempt after gunfire was reported at the royal palace in Riyadh.
The clip shows Salman alive and well, greeting Yemeni President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi in Jeddah yesterday to discuss the ongoing Yemen crisis, claimed.
A photograph showing the Crown Prince chairing a meeting with government officials has also been tweeted.
Saudi Arabia has always denied that any coup attempt took place, saying videos of heavy gunfire at the palace was guards shooting down a civilian drone.
State controlled media in Iran, Saudi Arabia’s arch enemy, has been speculating Prince Salman had been arrested even killed during attempts to topple him.
Iran’s Kayhan newspaper claimed: “At least two bullets have hit bin Salman in April 21 clashes in Riyadh and it is even possible that he is dead.”
The paper asked about why Salman was not pictured when new US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid his first visit to Saudi Arabia Riyadh in late April.
It claimed: “There is plenty of evidence to suggest that the absence of nearly 30 days of Muhammad bin Sulman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, is due to an incident which is being hidden from the public.”
Salman may have opponents within the regime because of his reformist agenda.
This includes introducing measures to loosen the country’s strict gender segregation including letting women drive in Saudi Arabia for the first time.
There has also been a crackdown on corruption.
And he has signalled the prospect of closer relations with Israel with comments about Israel having the right to a homeland going further than any other Arab leader.
The two countries do not have diplomatic ties.
But it is widely believed the nations could be about to forge an alliance because of their common enemy – Iran.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.