Saudi King Abdullah buried in Riyadh

RIYADH: Saudi King and the Custodian of two Holy Mosques Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, 90, died early Friday.
Foreign leaders gathered in the capital for the funeral of the ruler of the world’s top oil exporter and the spiritual home of Islam.He was replaced by his half-brother Salman, who moved quickly to consolidate his hold on power and vowed to maintain a steady course for the kingdom.
Salman joined Gulf rulers and leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, for a funeral service at Riyadh’s Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque.
Abdullah’s shrouded body was borne on a simple litter by members of the royal family wearing traditional red-and-white checked shemagh head gears. The body was quickly moved to nearby al-Od public cemetery where it was buried.
Citizens were invited to pledge allegiance to Salman at the royal palace. Another of the late monarch’s half-brothers, Moqren, was named the crown prince. Moving quickly to clear uncertainty over the transition to the next generation, Salman named the interior minister, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, as second in line to the throne. He also appointed one of his own sons, Prince Mohammed, as defence minister.
Officials did not disclose the cause of Abdullah’s death, but the late king had been hospitalised in December suffering from pneumonia and had been breathing with the aid of a tube.Salman is a stalwart of the royal family credited with transforming Riyadh from a backwater to a thriving capital during his half-century as governor.
Since the death in 1952 of the kingdom’s founder King Abdul Aziz bin Saud, the throne has passed systematically from one of his sons to another. Abdul Aziz had 45 recorded sons. Abdullah, Salman and Moqren were all born to different mothers.
As interior minister, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef served ina post also held by his father, the late Nayef bin Abdul Aziz. The younger Nayef was in charge of a crackdown on Al-Qaeda following a wave of deadly attacks in the Gulf state between 2003 and 2007.
His appointment helps to solidify control by the new king´s Sudayri branch of the royal family, named after Hissa bint Ahmad al-Sudayri, the mother of Salman and his late brother Nayef.Oil prices rose Friday after the death of King Abdullah, with investors waiting to see if the producer will tackle a supply glut that sent crude to six-year lows.
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in March climbed 60 cents to $46.91 a barrel compared with Thursday’s close. Brent North Sea crude for March rallied $1.03 to stand at $49.55 a barrel in London midday deals.
“As we are uncertain of how the new king would react to the current supply glut, we believe that the market is pricing in this uncertainty causing prices to spike,” said Daniel Ang, an investment analyst with broker Phillip Futures.“However, this premium would likely only persist temporarily. This premium should wear off once the market is clear of the new king´s view on the oil situation.”
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif along with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif arrived in Riyadh on Friday to participate in the funeral of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.Before his departure for the kingdom, Nawaz expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of King Abdullah.
In a message of condolence, the prime minister said that being the custodian of the Holy Mosques King Abdullah had a special place in the heart of every Pakistani. He extended condolences to the Saudi royal family as well as to the people of the Kingdom and said the whole Pakistani nation was with their Saudi brethren in this hour of grief.
President Mamnoon Hussain Friday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of King Abdullah.In a message, the president paid rich tribute to the late King and said the custodian of the Holy Mosques was held in high esteem by every Pakistani and considered a good friend of Pakistan.
The president extending condolences to the Saudi royal family and the people of Saudi Arabia said the Pakistani nation stood with their Saudi brethren in this hour of grief.Co-Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and former president Asif Ali Zardari condoled the death of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and paid glowing tributes to the late Saudi monarch.
In a condolence message he said that late King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz was a towering leader during whose reign the cordial and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reached new heights.
Minister for Information Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Friday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death King Abdullah. In a statement, he said the services of the deceased king for the unity and progress of Muslim Ummah would be remembered forever.
US President Barack Obama paid tribute to late Saudi King Abdullah as a bold leader and valued friend who made an enduring contribution to Middle East peace.
“As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions,” Obama said in a written statement soon after the royal court announced the king’s death.
Iran offered condolences Friday to the people and the government of Saudi Arabia upon the death of King Abdullah and said Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif would travel to Riyadh.