Saudi king appoints son to head Mecca province

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi King Abdullah on Sunday appointed his son Prince Mishaal as governor of Mecca Province, one of the most prominent jobs in the country, the latest move in a rolling reshuffle of senior ruling family members over the past two years.

He replaces Prince Khaled al-Faisal, who has been made education minister, a move that may revive stalled educational reforms aimed at reducing the influence of religious conservatives, Saudi analysts said.

Education ministry in Saudi Arabia  ?contradiction in terms

The Saudi royal family is basically like a big oppressive mafia that have taken millions of people hostage and turned the land into their big playground. They literally own the country and nobody can do anything about it. Yet the U.S. supports these tyrants, while they frown upon other tyrants?