#Politics #World #leaders head to #SaudiArabia after #kings death World leaders are descending on Saudi Arabia to pay respects following the death of King Abdullah. Despite deep tensions between the nations, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was one of the first to arrive Saturday. U.S. President Barack Obama is cutting short a visit to India to fly to the Sunni-ruled kingdom on Tuesday. He called the new Saudi king, Salman bin Abdul-Aziz, from Air Force One en route to India on Saturday to express his sympathies. The White House said Salman welcomed the news that Obama was coming to Riyadh. Others arriving to meet the new king included Britains Prince Charles and Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. A Saudi Arabian delegation was shown on video Saturday greeting the presidents of Afghanistan and Tunisia and the vice presidents of India and Indonesia. The 90-year-old king, one of the worlds few absolute monarchs, died Friday after being hospitalized with pneumonia. Abdullah was buried in a simple white shroud, according to Muslim tradition, in an unmarked grave at Al Oud public cemetery, following a simple ceremony in Riyadh attended by the Arab and Muslim worlds top leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Meanwhile, the oil-rich kingdom moved quickly to ensure a smooth transition by appointing a new monarch. Salman, Abdullahs half brother, pledged to continue Abdullahs policies. The new king, thought to be 79, has been crown prince and defense minister since 2012. Another half brother, Muqrin, was named the new crown prince. Salman named his nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef, as the new deputy crown prince and his son, Mohammed bin Salman, as Saudi Arabias new defense minister and head of the royal court. Salman also said he would keep most other ministers. In a televised speech, Salman vowed to continue adhering to the correct policies of his predecessors. We will remain, God willing, holding the straight course that this country has walked on since its establishment by the late King Abdul-Aziz, he said. The new king led prayers at the funeral service for Abdullah at the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh. On Friday evening, hundreds of Saudis visited a royal palace in Riyadh to wish their new leader well.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 00:38:02 +0000