Much speculation now focuses on who King Salman would nominate to the Allegiance Council for approval as his heir apparent.

BBC: Middle East

As king, Salman might choose to nominate Ahmed as crown prince, or Salman might seek to do a deal with the more powerful senior princes represented on the Allegiance Council, in order to ensure their agreement to one of his own sons becoming crown prince.

BBC: Middle East

"The king was in the past, " said Salman Fadhil, who runs a small grocery store. near the royalists' headquarters.

BBC: Mixed reception for Iraqi royal

The king's more liberal son, Crown Prince Salman, seemingly sidelined since the turmoil began, may differ.

ECONOMIST: Bahrain��s human-rights report

However, it took the king four years to appoint Nayef to the title, and Salman was not made second deputy PM in November 2011, when Abdullah nominated him to be heir apparent in place of Sultan.

BBC: Middle East

But the king is in his late 80s, with question marks surrounding his health, and his putative successor Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz is reportedly ailing.

BBC: New Saudi interior minister moves up succession ladder