Condolences for Sultan Qaboos: World leaders descend upon Royal Palace in Oman
Mourners include senior state officials, foreign diplomats, ex-presidents
Cairo: Oman’s Sultan Haitham Bin Tareq Al Saeed Sunday began receiving condolences for the death of his predecessor Qaboos Bin Said at the royal palace in the capital Muscat, the Omani news agency reported.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces also met with Sultan Haitham Bin Tareq at the royal palace, and offered his deepest condolences.
Sheikh Mohamed tweeted: "Today, I offered the condolences of the UAE's leadership and people to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on the demise of Sultan Qaboos, who was a great leader with a sound vision. May he rest in peace. May God grant Oman strength, stability and progress."
Sheikh Mohamed was accompanied with Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed, Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed, Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed and Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed.
Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad arrived in Muscat and was recieved at the airport by Omani officials. He later met Sultan Haitham and offered his condolences at Al Alam Palace.
Sultan Haitham also received at Al Alam Palace Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and an accompanying delegation who arrived in the Sultanate to offer condolences on the death of Sultan Qaboos.
King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa of Bahrain arrived in Oman on Sunday to offer his condolences to the new Omani leader Sultan Haitham.
Senior mourners included members of the royal family, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
This morning, Sultan Haitham Bin Tareq also received at Al Alam Palace the Tunisian President Kais Saied, and Qatar Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
Other Arab leaders who sent letters of condolences to Sultan Haitham are King Salman of Saudi Arabia, King Mohammad of Morocco and Lebanese President Micheal Aoun.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prince Charles were among those who arrived in Muscat to meet Oman's new ruler, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said.
US President Donald Trump expressed his condolences Saturday over the death of Sultan Qaboos, calling him a friend to America who worked for peace in the Middle East.
"As the longest-serving leader in the Middle East, Sultan Qaboos brought peace and prosperity to his country and was a friend to all."
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo condoled the death of Oman's Sultan Qaboos in a statment on Saturday
"I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. I came to know and admire His Majesty personally and he loved the Omani people and the Omani-American friendship,"
Condolences
Many other world leaders are expected to arrive later on Sunday in Oman to pay their condolences to the new Sultan of Oman following the death of Sultan Qaboos.
Sultan Haitham also received key Omani officials, military commanders and notables, as well as foreign diplomats accredited in the country, according to the agency.
Offering of condolences at the royal palace will continue for three days, according to the royal court.
The sultan, a former culture minister, was named Saturday to rule Oman shortly before the burial of Qaboos who was credited with modernising the country during a nearly 50-year reign.
In his inauguration speech, Sultan Haitham pledged to follow Qaboos’ foreign policy of peaceful coexistence and non-interference in other countries’ affairs.