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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Saudi state TV says King Abdullah, the
powerful U.S. ally who joined Washington's fight against al-Qaida and
sought to modernize the ultraconservative Muslim kingdom has died. He
was 90.
The TV station said Abdullah died Friday.
His
expected successor is his 79-year-old half-brother, Prince Salman, who
recently has taken on the ailing Abdullah's responsibilities.
The
announcement came in statement read by a presenter on Saudi state TV,
which aired video of worshippers at the Kaaba in Mecca.
The chain-smoking king was seen wearing a breathing tube during his
meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama on March 28 as well as April 4,
when he returned to Riyadh from his spring retreat in Rawdat Khuraim.
Abdullah’s near-imminent death seems to be the driver behind the
king’s unprecedented move to appoint his trusted half-brother Muqrin,
69, as a second crown prince – the first-ever appointment in the
country’s history. Muqrin’s appointment was followed by the dismissal of
Bandar Bin Sultan as intelligence chief two days ago, in addition to
another round of appointments to be announced as early as tomorrow,
Friday.
Observers expect the news of Abdullah’s condition to lead to intense
vying for power among the members of the vast ruling family. Rachel
Hertzman, policy analyst at the Institute for Gulf Affairs said, “The
recent scramble to designate a line of succession is not surprising
given that King Abdullah has only a few months left, due to advancing
age in addition to his terminal illness.”
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