Saudi crown prince meets senior royals in Morocco

Wed Oct 6, 2010 1:47pm GMT

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* Saudi crown prince meets senior royals in Morocco

* He has been out of public view due to health problems

RIYADH, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz, who was for much of last year abroad for medical treatment and rest, has met senior Saudi royals in Morocco, state news agency SPA said on Wednesday.

It was the first report on meetings held by Sultan, who is also defence minister and deputy prime minister of the top oil exporter and major U.S. ally, for a month.

He had left Saudi Arabia for a holiday in Morocco in August.

Sultan's movements and meetings are watched closely by Gulf diplomats and officials after he spent much of last year in Morocco following unspecified treatment in the United States.

Diplomats have said Sultan, who is believed to be in his mid-eighties, was treated for cancer.

Saudi Arabia has said he has been cured, but diplomats say he has been less active in public and some of his duties seem to have been taken over by other princes. Continued...

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