World leaders head to Saudi Arabia after Abdullah’s death

RIYADH:  World leaders travelled to Saudi Arabia to offer condolences following the death of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz.

A UAE delegation led by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, conveyed condolences from President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE government and its people to King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz.

Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid was accompanied by His Highness Shaikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, and General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The delegation expressed their full trust in Saudi Arabia’s honourable approach under the leadership of King Salman.

Abdullah died on Friday at the age of about 90 after being hospitalised with pneumonia.

Rare visit

US President Barack Obama, who is visiting India, will reach Riyadh on Tuesday to meet new King Salman, the White House said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, Prince Charles and French President Francois Hollande were among the leaders who flew in to offer condolences.
Other dignitaries who arrived to pay respects included Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, on a rare visit to the regional rival.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were among those who attended Abdullah’s funeral at Riyadh’s Imam Turki Bin Abdullah mosque on Friday.

Africa was also represented, with Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.