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Thursday, January 22, 2015

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz dies Thursday Jan 22,2015

 
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
Death: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz died last night aged 90 following a battle with pneumonia

The royal had been in the hospital since December 2014, battling pneumonia.

King Abdullah's half-brother Salman, 79, has become king, a statement attributed to Salman said.
New King Salman has been crown prince and defense minister since 2012 and was governor of Riyadh province for five decades before that
Saudi Crown Prince Salman (02/09/14)


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.

King Salman made a speech on Saudi state television following the death of his half-brother Abdullah, saying that he would continue the policies of his predecessors
King Salman made a speech on Saudi state television following the death of his half-brother Abdullah, saying that he would continue the policies of his predecessors 

Abdullah will be buried today Friday Jan 23,2015 following Muslim tradition that a burial should take place within 24 hours of death.

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.'

 About King Abdullah

King Abdullah was born in 1924 in Riyadh, one of the dozens of sons of Saudi Arabia's founder, King Abdul-Aziz Al Saud and  only had a rudimentary education, and had a strict upbringing - exemplified by three days he spent in prison as a young man as punishment by his father for failing to give his seat to a visitor - a violation of Bedouin hospitality.

Abdullah was selected as crown prince in 1982 on the day his half-brother Fahd ascended to the throne. 

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

The decision was challenged by a full brother of Fahd, Prince Sultan, who wanted the title for himself. But the family eventually closed ranks behind Abdullah to prevent splits. 

By the time he became de facto regent in 1995, when his predecessor King Fahd had a stroke, he was known to foreign diplomats as devout and conservative with strong ties to the kingdom's Bedouin tribes.
Late King Abdullah wearing traditional clothing in preparation for performing the traditional Bedouin war dance using swords called the 'Ardha' in 2003

King Abdullah sought to modernise the ultraconservative Muslim kingdom with incremental but significant reforms, including nudging open greater opportunities for women during his 10-year reign.


 King Abdullah with US President Brack Obama in 2010 
The late Saudi king - pictured here with President Obama in 2010 - had been in hospital since December


King Abdullah with British Prime Minister David Cameron in 2012
Prime Minister David Cameron pictured in 2012 meeting King Abdullah, who has died at the age of 90

The body of Saudi King Abdullah, laid on a prayer mat, is carried into the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh during his funeral

 The body of Saudi King Abdullah, laid on a prayer mat, is carried into the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh during his funeral 
The body of King Abdullah was carried into the mosque as his funeral began, less than 24 hours after Saudi Arabia was plunged into mourning  
The body of King Abdullah, who died early in the morning and was replaced by his half-brother Salman, is held high by mourners at the funeral
His funeral takes place after Saudi state TV reported King Abdullah died at the age of 90 - plunging the country into mourning 
The body of King Abdullah was shrouded in a simple cloth after being carried in to the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh

 Leaders and mourners attend the funeral of Saudi King Abdullah at Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh
Leaders and mourners attend the funeral of Saudi King Abdullah at Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh 
Dozens of mourners attended the funeral prayer of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 23



Saudi King Abdullah was buried in an unmarked grave in Riyadh following his funeral this afternoon, less than a day after he died

Saudi King Abdullah was buried in an unmarked grave in Riyadh following his funeral this afternoon, less than a day after he died 
 Thousands gathered in Mecca as King Abdullah was laid to rest in Riyadh after losing battle with pneumonia at the age of 90
Family, friends and dignitaries from the Arab world crowded around the grave to pay their final respects following the monarch's funeral 
Mourners crowd around the grave of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, with some taking pictures on mobile phones, at the Al-Od cemetary
Mourners crowd around the grave of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, with some taking pictures on mobile phones, at the Al-Od cemetary

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