Saudi king Abdullah dies, half-brother succeeds him

Riyadh, Jan 23: Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz died of complications from pneumonia early Friday and was succeeded by his half-brother Salman, the Saudi Arabian royal household said in a statement. He was 90. "With great sorrow and grief, 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 1 a.m. this morning," Xinhua quoted the Saudi royal court as saying. Abdullah, born in 1924, was hospitalised in December with pneumonia and had been breathing with external aid. The royal court had announced Jan 2 that he was on a temporary ventilator for a respiratory infection. Funeral prayers will be held later in the day following afternoon prayers at the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah grand mosque in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Former crown prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received the pledge of allegiance as the country's king from members of the royal family. After that, Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz received the pledge of allegiance as the new crown prince. Both King Salman and Crown Prince Muqrin will receive pledges of allegiance from citizens Friday evening.