[b]King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has died at the age of 90, bringing to an end the rule of the world's oldest monarch.
The king, who took control of the world's largest oil-producing nation in August 2005, will be succeeded by his 79-year-old brother, Salman.
The king had been unwell for some time, and was taken to the King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh on New Year's Eve, for what the palace said was pneumonia.
King Abdullah, like his predecessor King Fahd and successor Crown Prince Salman, was a son of Ibn Saud, who founded modern Saudi Arabia in 1932.
The monarch is thought to have left behind four wives, seven sons and 15 daughters.
And the death of King Abdullah, seen as a reforming figure and moderate within the House of Saud, comes at a difficult time for the country of 29 million – the second largest in the Arab world, after Algeria.
Oil prices are plummeting and the country has seen increasing attacks from jihadis – possibly, for the first time, affiliated with Isil.
Furthermore, there are concerns about his successor's ability to rule the fractious family and keep control of the country.
"Prince Salman himself has had at least one stroke, and he's also been slowing down. This is pretty well accepted by everybody," said Simon Henderson, an expert on the Gulf at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
He told NPR: "How you actually describe that slowing down is a matter of debate. I've tended to think it is some form of dementia."
But the Crown Prince on Tuesday gave a speech to open a new session of the legislature, and outlined on the king's behalf the challenges facing the kingdom.
"This meeting comes in extremely sensitive and delicate international and regional conditions," he said, in a speech which focused on reassuring Saudis that their economic interests will be safeguarded despite the plunge in oil prices.
In a separate speech on state television, he continued with his theme, and said: "You cannot be blind to the tensions in the global oil markets. These are not new developments – and we have dealt with it in the past with a firm will and wisdom, and we will deal with the new developments in the same vein."
And he made a passing reference to the violence ravaging Syria and neighbouring Iraq, saying Saudi Arabia remains "an oasis of peace" despite turmoil around it.
The Crown Prince will take control immediately, and a funeral will be held within 24 hours.
It is thought likely that Prince Charles will attend, because he and King Abdullah were known to be close.
Prince Charles last visited Saudi Arabia in February – his 10th official trip to the country since he first toured the nation in 1986.[/b]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/saudiarabia/11329736/King-Abdullah-of-Saudi-Arabia-dies-aged-90.html

V

RIP to him

If Saudis are any wiser they will declare the country a republic. Monarchy is the longest running scam in human history.

RIP Your Highness

Orun re re o. . . Owo mecca ma won ni year ni yen o..

That's so sad, rip

#RIJF. King Abdullah, who was 90, had been in hospital for
several weeks and was suffering from pneumonia.
Crown Prince Salman has succeded him.

1 down, many more to go, preferably the Queen [Iya Charlie].

30th, March 2009 - The Libyan Leader [Muammar Ghadaffi] turned on the King [King Abdallah] saying "It has been six years you have been avoiding a confrontation with me. You are propelled by fibs towards the grave and you were made by Britain and protected by the US"

Death to all Ghadaffi killers, including that clueless drunk from Otueke!

Nigeria Sai GMB!

PS: Quote me & receive arrows of untimely death.

Rip to the soul's dead body ! My condolences.

Rest in peace and in the best of Aljahna.

RIP, ye av tried