Pages

Friday 23 January 2015

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Dies Aged 90 following battle with pneumonia

King Abdullah arrives at the the opening ceremony of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit in Mecca in 2012
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz - the powerful U.S. ally who sought to modernize the ultraconservative Muslim kingdom with incremental but significant reforms - has died aged 90, it has been confirmed.
The royal had been in the hospital since December, battling pneumonia.
King Abdullah's half-brother Salman, 79, has become king, a statement attributed to Salman said.
His death was confirmed on state television early Thursday morning, Saudi time, with channels cutting to Koranic verses - an action often signifying the death of a top royal.
Abdullah will be buried today following Muslim tradition that a burial should take place within 24 hours of death.

Death: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has died aged 90 following a battle with pneumonia
Death: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has died aged 90 following a battle with pneumonia
King Abdullah (left) speaks with Prince Salman, the Saudi King's brother and Riyadh governor (right) before the king's departure to the U.S.
King Abdullah (left) speaks with Prince Salman, the Saudi King's brother and Riyadh governor (right) before the king's departure to the U.S.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PAYS TRIBUTE TO KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ


President Barack Obama (left) pictured with the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz (right)
President Barack Obama (left) pictured with the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz (right)
America's President Barack Obama paid tribute to Abdullah, who has been an ally of Washington in its fight against terror. 
'As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions,' Obama said in a statement. 
'One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.
'The closeness and strength of the partnership between our two countries is part of King Abdullah's legacy.'
Obama said that as the two allies 'worked together to confront many challenges, I always valued King Abdullah's perspective and appreciated our genuine and warm friendship.'

President Barack Obama paid tribute to Abdullah, who has been an ally of Washington in its fight against terror.
'As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions,' Obama said in a statement. 
'One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.
'The closeness and strength of the partnership between our two countries is part of King Abdullah's legacy.'
Obama said that as the two allies 'worked together to confront many challenges, I always valued King Abdullah's perspective and appreciated our genuine and warm friendship'. 
Obama praised the 90-year-old for taking 'bold steps' in advancing the Arab Peace Initiative and credited the king for his dedication to education among his people and national outreach. 
A statement released by the new king read: '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 1am this morning.'
One of his last decisions is thought to have been referring the case of Raif Badawi, the Saudi blogger who has been sentenced to 1,000 lashes, to the High Court last week. 
Abdullah - who fathered 22 children with about a dozen wives - had ruled Saudi Arabia as king since 2005, but had run the country as de facto regent for a decade before that after his predecessor King Fahd suffered a debilitating stroke. 
New King Salman has been crown prince and defense minister since 2012. He was governor of Riyadh province for five decades before that.
By immediately appointing Muqrin as his heir, subject to the approval of a family Allegiance Council, Salman has moved to avert widespread speculation about the immediate path of the royal succession in the world's top oil exporter.

No comments:

Post a Comment