Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz passed away early Friday at the age of 90 weeks after his hospital stay due to lung infection. Before the announcement, Saudi television cut to Koranic verses, which often signifies the death of a senior royal.
A huge crowd of supporters gathered in the holy city of Mecca after the announcement, paying their tributes to the deceased ruler. Services were held Friday afternoon at the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh, and many world leaders are likely to pay their respects.
Abdullah was believed to be born in 1923. When he officially became ruler of Saudi Arabia in August 2005, the nation has become the U.S’s closest ally in the Middle East for its vast supply of oil in the land. However, he has been ruling the nation as de facto regent since 1996 when his half-brother King Fahd suffered a major stroke.
Abdullah pushed cautious changes in the conservative Islamic kingdom that includes reinforced women's rights and economic deregulation, but made unstated projects concerning democracy and was pinned on policy disempowering rival -- Iran.
In one of his statements, U.S. President Barack Obama praised him for all of his efforts in the world economy and in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"King Abdullah's life spanned from before the birth of modern Saudi Arabia through its emergence as a critical force within the global economy and a leader among Arab and Islamic nations,” President Obama said.
Under Abdullah's leadership, Saudi Arabia has slowly broken al Qaeda, capturing or eliminating its leaders who threaten the kingdom, forcing the remnants to go underground and stay alongside radical preachers. Just last year, the Arab nation in a U.S.-led force to purge the ultraradical ISIS group in Iraq and Syria.
Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz was appointed king, with his half-brother Muqrin named as his crown prince and heir. Analysts expect a smooth political transition with all the challenges that Saudi Arabia is facing, which of course include the rise of ISIS, the crisis in Yemen, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and the decrease in oil prices.
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