Friday 23 January 2015

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz dies aged 90

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz  has died aged 90 
The US Ally who sought to modernize the ultraconservative Muslim kingdom with incremental but significant reforms .
The royal had been in the hospital since December, battling pneumonia, and his half-brother Salman, 79, has become king.
His death was confirmed on state television yesterday with channels cutting to Koranic verses - only used following the death of a senior royal.
Abdullah's funeral will be today following Muslim tradition that a burial should take place within 24 hours of death.
THE LATE KING ABDULLAH WITH US PRESIDENT,BARACK OBAMA

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.


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.'
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

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.


2 comments:

  1. ...And someone wants to crucify Buhari as being too old for the crown.
    This is Saudi Arabia o. Oyel people!

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  2. Still may his soul rest in peace. I respect his mien and the way he does things as well as handle affairs when he was alive.

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