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.
No comments:
Post a Comment