Saudi Arabia, the oil-rich zone
of the Middle-East loses its King, 22:00 (GMT). The announcement of his
demise was made by the Royal Officials.
"His Highness Salman bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away
at exactly 1 a.m. this morning," said
the statement.
As king he also bore the title
of custodian of Islam’s holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, making him one of the
faith’s most important figures.
Abdullah
had suffered frequent bouts of ill health in recent years, and King Salman had
recently taken on the ailing monarch's responsibilities.
Prior
to announcing Abdullah's death, Saudi television cut to Koranic verses, which
often signifies the passing of a senior royal?
Throngs
of mourners gathered in Mecca early Friday just hours after Saudi Arabia's King
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud died. He was 90.
His
brother Salman became king of the royal court in the world's top oil exporter
and birthplace of Islam said in a statement carried by state television.
King Salman has named his half-brother Muqrin as his
crown prince and heir.
The king’s death adds
yet another element of uncertainty in a region already overwhelmed by crises
and as Saudi Arabia is itself in a struggle with Iran for regional dominance.
The royal family moved quickly to assure a smooth transition
of power in a nation that is a close ally of the United States, the world’s
largest exporter of oil and the religious center of the
Islamic faith.
“As our countries worked together to confront many
challenges, I always valued King Abdullah’s
perspective and appreciated our genuine and warm friendship,” President Obama
said in a statement issued by the White House. “As a leader, he was always
candid and had the courage of his convictions.”
Within
hours of his accession to the throne of the oil-rich kingdom, King Salman vowed
to maintain the same policies as his predecessors.
"We
will continue adhering to the correct policies which Saudi Arabia has followed
since its establishment," he said in a speech broadcast on state
television.
King
Salman’s Profile
- Born on 31 December 1935
- Son of Princess Hassa al-Sudairi
- Governor of Riyadh from 1955-1960 and 1963-2011
- Appointed defence minister upon death of his brother Crown Prince Sultan
- Owns important stake in one of the Arab world's largest media groups
King Salman
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