'We are not in crisis', says new Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf over Jamal Khashoggi's murder

Saudi Arabia's new foreign minister Ibrahim al-Assaf struck a te of defiance on Friday in face of international outr over critic Jamal Khashoggi's murder, rejecting kingdom was in crisis and his predecessor h been demoted.

Ibrahim al-Assaf, a former veteran finance minister who was briefly detained last year in what Riyh said was an anti-corruption sweep, replaced el al-Jubeir as foreign minister in a major government shake-up on Thursday ordered by King Salman.

surprise reshuffle was seen partly as an attempt to elevate kingdom's marginalised old guard, ding a veneer of checks and balances in policy decisions of 33-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who faces intense global scrutiny over October 2 murder of journalist Khashoggi.

But speaking to AFP in his first interview since his appointment, Assaf insisted restructuring was motivated t by Khashoggi affair, but need to make government machinery more efficient.

" issue of Jamal Khashoggi... really sdened us, all of us," Assaf told AFP at his residence in Riyh, orned with mahogany furniture, a wall-mounted elephant tusk and or hunting trophies.

RE: ''Crown Prince A Red Line In Khashoggi's Probe'', Says el Al-Jubeir

"But all in all, we are t going through a crisis, we are going through a transformation," he ded, referring to social and ecomic reforms spearheed by crown prince.

Assaf, 69, inherits ministry after a series of combative foreign policy moves by crown prince, who along with regional allies imposed a blocke on neighbouring Qatar, launched a military campaign in Yemen and engd in a bitter diplomatic row with Cana.

Topping it all, Khashoggi's murder in Saudi Arabia's Istanbul consulate by what it calls "rogue" nts is testing relations with key ally Washington, particularly after a US Senate resolution recently held Prince Mohammed responsible for killing.

When asked wher his biggest foreign policy challenge was to repair kingdom's tarnished reputation, Assaf replied: "I wouldn't say 'repair' because relationship between my country and a vast majority of countries in world is in excellent shape." 

Before him, Jubeir also sought to vigorously defend government and crown prince, widely kwn as MBS, on international st over Khashoggi's murder.

In Thursday's reshuffle, Jubeir was appointed minister of state for foreign affairs, fuelling speculation that he h been demoted after he failed to quell global criticism over Khashoggi.

"This is far from truth," Assaf said, ding that Jubeir h performed with distinction. Jubeir's new role, he insisted, was tantamount to a division of labour and t a demotion, in a bid to accelerate task of remaking a ministry kwn to be overly bureaucratic.

"el represented Saudi Arabia and will continue to represent Saudi Arabia... around world," Assaf said.

A seasoned bureaucrat, Assaf was briefly held in Riyh's Ritz-Carlton hotel last year along with hundreds of elite princes and businessmen, in what government called a crackdown against corruption.

Saudi officials say he was released after being cleared of any wrongdoing, and he subsequently led a government delegation to World Ecomic Forum in Davos earlier this year.

His reappointment to a cabinet role indicates government is seeking to slowly "rehabilitate" experienced old guard, widely seen to be sidelined by young prince, observers say.

"King Salman is seeking to bolster his son by appointing seasoned techcrats like Assaf who are t from MBS's inner circle, indirectly reinstating an internal system of checks and balances that was swept away in his drive to consolidate power," said Becca Wasser.

"ding experienced government hands from an older generation, will serve to check some of MBS's impulses," policy analyst at US-based RAND Corporation told AFP.

elevation of seasoned allies in Thursday's reshuffle has bolstered authority of Prince Mohammed, after removal of younger aides in his inner circle implicated in Khashoggi's murder, including former royal court visor Saud al-Qahtani.

Assaf, who is on boards of state oil giant Aramco and vast Public Investment Fund, said his appointment as top diplomat would help bring his financial experience to foreign affairs amid a current "dip" in ecomy.

"Ecomic relationships w dominate foreign" affairs, Assaf said.

RE: Jamal Khashoggi's Body Was Cut Alive In Seven Minutes, Killer Said 'he Liked It'