RIYADH, July 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Saudi Arabia's veteran Ambassador to the United States Prince Bandar bin Sultan has resigned, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.

    Bandar, who has served over 20 years as top Saudi diplomat in the US, has submitted his resignation to Saudi King Fahd "for private reasons," the statement said.

    The king has accepted his resignation, said the statement,praising Bandar for his "distinguished achievements" as the long-time Saudi envoy to Washington.

    Bandar will be replaced by Prince Turki al-Faisal, who is now Saudi ambassador to Britain, the statement added, without givingfurther details.

    Faisal used to be the intelligence chief of the oil-rich kingdom for 27 years. Enditem