King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday removed his information and culture minister nearly six years after he was appointed.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja was removed “at his request” and was replaced by Minister of Haj (pilgrimage) Bandar bin Mohammed Asaad Hajjar. The agency did not mention reasons for the replacement.
Born in 1940, Khoja became minister of information and culture in early 2009 after serving as Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Turkey, Russia and other countries.
Holder of a doctorate in organic chemistry from Birmingham University, Khoja is also a poet and an author.