Removal From Throne
King Saud's family members worried about Saud's profligacy and his inability to meet Nasser's socialist challenge. Corruption and backwardness were weakening the regime. Radio Cairo's anti-Saudi propaganda was finding a receptive audience.
King Saud and Prince Faisal continued their power struggle until 1962, when Prince Faisal formed a cabinet in the absence of the King, who had gone abroad for medical treatment. Prince Faisal allied with Prince Fahd and Prince Sultan. Prince Faisal's new government excluded the sons of Saud. He promised a ten-point reform that included the drafting of a basic law, the abolishing of slavery and the establishment of a judicial council.
King Saud rejected Prince Faisal's new arrangement and threatened to mobilize the Royal Guard against his brother. Prince Faisal ordered the mobilization of the National Guard against King Saud. With the arbitration of the ulema, and pressure from senior members of the royal family, King Saud gave in and agreed to abdicate on 28 March 1964.
King Saud was forced into exile and he moved to Geneva, Switzerland, and then on to other European cities. In 1966, Saud was invited to live in Egypt by Gamal Abdel Nasser. However, there is another report concerning his exile. According to this report, King Saud went to Egypt under refuge granted by Gamal Abdel Nasser and stayed there from 1965 to 1967. King Saud was also allowed to make propaganda on Radio Cairo. Some of his sons, Prince Khalid, Prince Badr, Prince Sultan and Prince Mansur, joined him and supported his attempt to regain the throne. However, after the June 1967 Arab-Israel war, he lost the support of Egypt and settled in Greece. He stayed there from 1967 to 1969.
After his abdication, he was generally not mentioned in Saudi Arabia, with numerous institutions bearing his name being renamed. His reign was only referenced in passing in official history books. Likewise, his sons remained largely marginalized from positions of power though two were named governors to minor provinces during the reign of King Fahd.
Read more about this topic: Saud Of Saudi Arabia
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