Saudi Monarch: King Abdullah Is Reported Dead- Saudi TV

Friday, 23 January 2015

Saudi Monarch: King Abdullah Is Reported Dead- Saudi TV

King Abdullah, an ally of the US who joined Washington’s fight against al-Qaeda, has died following a swirl of reports and rumours about his sagging health. Saudi Tv report.

The station also reported that the monarch had died on Friday, after he had been hospitalised with pneumonia last month.

His 79-year-old half brother, Crown Prince Salman, who recently has taken on the ailing monarch’s responsibilities despite being said to be in poor health and suffering from dementia himself, was named as the successor.

The announcement came in statement read by a presenter on Saudi state TV, which aired video of worshippers at the Kaaba in Mecca, the Associated Press said.

King Abdullah ibn Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, who took power in 2005 after the death of his half-brother King Fahd, is thought to be either 90 or 91, although official accounts are unclear.

He had undergone surgery in the past few years related to a herniated disc.