Saudi’s new king likely to stay the Muslim kingdom’s course

c. 2014 USA Today

(RNS) Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, who took the helm of the world’s last absolute monarchy January 23, faces turbulence at home and abroad but is unlikely to change the course set by his predecessors.

“We will continue adhering to the correct policies which Saudi Arabia has followed since its establishment,” the king said in his first speech after succeeding his half-brother, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, who died earlier that day at age 90.