He also named Prince Mohammed as the head of the royal court and special advisor to the monarch, said the decree published by state news agency SPA.

Saudi King Salman appointed Friday the kingdom's Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef as second in line to the throne, according to a royal decree.

Salman, who succeeded his half-brother King Abdullah who died Friday, also appointed Prince Mohammed as a second deputy prime minister, said the decree published by state news agency SPA.

After the death of King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia quickly announced that one of his younger brothers, Crown Prince Salman, was succeeding him.