Riyadh appoints first female US ambassador

RIYADH－Saudi Arabia on Sunday appointed a princess as its first female ambassador to the United States, a key appointment as the fallout over journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder tests relations between the allies.

Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, a daughter of the kingdom's longtime ambassador to Washington Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, faces a stark challenge in improving ties between the US and Saudi Arabia.

She replaces Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, a son of King Salman and a former fighter pilot who insisted after Khashoggi's disappearance Oct 2 that The Washington Post columnist simply left the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul.

Instead, members of entourage of the royal family, allegedly assassinated and dismembered Khashoggi inside the diplomatic post.

The Post, citing unnamed sources in November, also reported that US intelligence agencies reviewed a phone call that Prince Khalid had with Khashoggi, in which he allegedly told the writer he'd be safe going to the consulate to retrieve the documents he needed to get married.

The newspaper said it was not known whether the ambassador knew Khashoggi would be killed, though he made the call at the direction of the crown prince. The Saudi Embassy in Washington has denied the call took place.

Philanthropic work

Princess Reema, who studied in the US and is known in the kingdom for her philanthropic work, lived in the US during her father's career of more than 20 years as the Saudi ambassador there. Her father also served as the head of the country's intelligence service.

"I will work with God's permission to serve my country, its leaders and all its children and I will spare no effort to that end," Princess Reema wrote on social media after her appointment.

Her posting came as Saudi Arabia under King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman allowed women to drive last year.

Prince Khalid is expected to return to Riyadh as a deputy defense minister. Prince Mohammed has held the position of defense minister even after becoming the next in line to the throne of the kingdom.

Prince Khalid's naming as deputy defense minister came as Saudi Arabia remains mired in its yearslong war in Yemen, which also have strained US relations to the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has faced growing Western criticism over its airstrikes hitting markets and clinics, killing civilians. US lawmakers increasingly are pushing to withdraw US support for the conflict, which pits the kingdom and its allies against the Houthi rebels that hold the capital of the Arab world's poorest nation.

AP/AFP/REUTERS