Saudi king sacks military chief, reshuffles other posts in major shake up

Political appointments were announced, including the rare appointment of a female Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Development

Saudi Arabia King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud has sacked the military chief of staff and a host of other commanders in a major shake-up, state media said on Monday citing a series of royal decrees.

"Termination of the services of General Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, Chief of Staff," the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said, adding that Fayyad al-Ruwaili had been appointed as his replacement.

Various military figures have already been promoted to replace those sacked. The monarch also replaced the heads of the ground forces and air defences. 

A series of political appointments were also announced at the