Saudi king prepares to name new

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crown prince DUBAI, Oct 27 (Reuters): Saudi Arabia ends a mourning period for Crown Prince Sultan Thursday, opening the way for King Abdullah to appoint his new heir who is widely expected to be the veteran interior minister. The timing of the announcement is unknown, except that it will come at some stage after the three-day period when the royal court has accepted condolences for the death of Sultan, and not necessarily Thursday. But Prince Nayef, who has long been interior minister of the world's top oil exporter, is likely to be named the new crown prince, succeeding Prince Sultan who died of cancer last week.