Abu Dhabi: Funeral prayers were held on Tuesday for Shaikh Nasser Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his colleague who died in a helicopter crash on Monday night.
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, joined mourners in performing the prayers at the Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Mosque in Al Bateen.
Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi of Sharjah, Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi of Fujairah, and Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi of Ajman offered funeral prayers for Shaikh Nasser.
Also performing the prayers were General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Deputy Rulers and Crown Princes of the Emirates.
Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, and Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, in addition to other shaikhs, officials, diplomats and scores of UAE citizens and residents also took part in the prayers.
Shaikh Khalifa received condolences after the deceased were laid to rest at the graveyard in Al Bateen in Abu Dhabi.
The President earlier announced the death of his brother Shaikh Nasser and his colleague when the helicopter carrying him and his colleague crashed over Gulf waters on Monday night.
The Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced a three-day mourning period starting yesterday, during which flags will fly at half-mast.
Offices in the government, public and private sectors will remain open, according to a source at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs.
Shaikh Khalifa will continue receiving condolences today at Al Mushrif Palace.
The Court of Dubai's Ruler mourned the death of Shaikh Nasser and announced three days of mourning in Dubai.
The courts of Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi of Sharjah, Shaikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi of Ras Al Khaimah, Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi of Fujairah, Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi of Ajman, Shaikh Rashid Bin Ahmad Al Mualla of Umm Al Quwain, mourned the death of Shaikh Nasser and declared three days mourning period in their emirates.
Condolences: Khalifa gets calls and cables
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan received condolences from Arab and Muslim leaders on the death of Shaikh Nasser Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Shaikh Khalifa received condolences from Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the emirates, Crown Princes and Deputy Rulers of the emirates and other shaikhs.
The President received condolences from Shaikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Kuwait, who conveyed the condolences of Emir of Kuwait Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah.
He also received condolences from Hareb Bin Tueini, Secretary-General of Conferences in Oman, who conveyed the condolences of Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed of Oman as well as Shaikh Jua'an Bin Hamad Al Thani who conveyed the condolences of Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar. The President received cables of condolences from Rulers Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar and Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed of Oman.
He also received cables from Shaikh Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jabr Al Thani, Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, and Khalifa Bin Ahmad Al Dahrani, Speaker of Bahraini Parliament.
He received phone calls from Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, and Saudi Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Tabuk, who extended their heartfelt condolences on the tragic death of Shaikh Nasser.
Shaikh Khalifa also received a phone call from Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince, Minister of Defence and Aviation and General Inspector of Saudi Arabia. Shaikh Khalifa received a phone call from King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, who expressed his condolences.
He also received a call from Palestinian leader Esmail Haniya who offered his condolences.
