King Abdullah dies, Prince Salman assumes Saudi throne

Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdelaziz has passed away and Crown Prince Salman has been named the new monarch. In a statement carried by Saudi TV in the early hours of Friday morning, the Saudi Royal Court announced the death of King Abdullah.

It declared Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdelaziz as king of the oil-rich Gulf country and Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz as the new crown prince.

“His Highness Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1am [10pm GMT] this morning,” the statement said.

King Abdullah, who was said to be aged about 90, was recently admitted to hospital after suffering a lung infection. He was diagnosed with pneumonia.

King Abdullah underwent back surgery in November 2012. Ever since, he has refrained from attending events outside the kingdom, including a recent high-profile Gulf summit held in the Qatari capital Doha.

King Salman, 79, is Abdullah’s half-brother. He was appointed crown prince in June of 2012 after the death of the late crown prince, Naif.

Prince Muqrin, who is in his late 60s, is also Abdullah’s half-brother. He was serving as second deputy prime minister and the king’s special envoy. King Salman called on the royal family’s Allegiance Council to recognise Muqrin as his crown prince and heir.

All three are sons of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia King Abdulaziz, usually referred to as Ibn Saud, who died in 1953.

Update: The Royal Court of Jordan has announced a 40-day mourning period for the death of King Abdullah Bin Abdelaziz.