RIYADH: Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the former Saudi ambassador to the United States, has been named the country's new intelligence chief, the royal palace announced on Thursday.

Prince Bandar, who retains his job as secretary general of Saudi Arabia's National Security Council, replaces Mogren bin Abdel Aziz, who resigned.

A royal decree broadcast on state television, said Prince Moqren had been named as a counsellor and special envoy to the king. Bandar, born in 1949, was Saudi envoy to Washington from 1983 to 2005.

He was named head of the newly created National Security Council in 2005, as Saudi Arabia was embroiled in a campaign against Al-Qaeda, which had carried out numerous attacks in the country.

Prince Bandar is the son of the late crown prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, who died last year.