The appointment of the 76-year-old Prince Salman comes less than 24 hours after his predecessor Prince Nayef was buried. Prince Salman is seen as a conservative

pragmatist

with a warmer public profile perhaps than Prince Nayef whose main role was to enforce security. But he too, is one of the aging sons of the founder of the modern Saudi state King Abdul Aziz, as all the kingdom's leaders have been. Today's simple announcement has again postponed for potentially difficult but inevitable transition to a younger generation.

A senior Vatican official has spoken of a fierce attempt to

sow

divisions between Pope Benedict and his closest associates. Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, was responding to the recent leaking of sensitive documents. Cardinal Bertone rejected suggestions that senior clerics were behind the leaks.

The trial of the Bosnian Serb former commander Ratko Mladic in The Hague has been suspended until further notice. The case has been due to resume next week. Last month, it was halted when it emerged the prosecution had failed to disclose evidence to the defense. The Hague

tribunal

said the latest delay was also related to the disclosure of evidence without giving further details. Ratko Mladic is charged with war crimes.

This is the World News from the BBC.

President Obama's first choice to be the next American ambassador to Iraq, Brett McGurk, has withdrawn from the selection process. Mr McGurk, a long-time Iraq expert, said that he was