Saudi Arabia's crown prince and defence minister, Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, returned home today after more than a year's absence which had given rise to widespread concern over his health. The Government said Sultan, a half-brother to King Abdullah returned after medical treatments in New York and a lengthy convalescence at his vacation palace in Agadir, Morocco. The Sultan has served as defence chief for almost half a century, Prince Sultan, 78, was greeted at Riyadh airport by King Abdullah and dozens of members of the ruling Al-Saud royal family. The streets of the Saudi capital were decked out with the kingdom's flags to mark his return. King Abdullah ordered the release of an unspecified number of people from jail to mark Sultan's return.