Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

World leaders, Saudi people offer condolences on passing of King Abdullah | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Saudi Arabia’s King Salman (C) speaks to Crown Prince Muqrin, (center L) in Riyadh on January 24, 2015. (AP Photo/SPA)


Saudi Arabia's King Salman (C) speaks to Crown Prince Muqrin, (center L) in Riyadh on January 24, 2015. (AP Photo/SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman (C) speaks to Crown Prince Muqrin, (center L) in Riyadh on January 24, 2015. (AP Photo/SPA)

Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—World leaders continued to flock to the Saudi capital Riyadh for the third day in a row on Sunday, to offer their condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz on the passing of his brother, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz.

Among those present at the Yamama Palace included King Philippe of Belgium, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, Iraqi Vice President Iyad Allawi, and the prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Nechervan Barzani.

The Saudi Royal Court announced on Sunday that King Abdullah’s sons would begin receiving public condolences at the King Abdullah Palace in Riyadh on Monday and Tuesday.

Saudi citizens also offered their condolences at regional and provincial centers around the country. They also swore oaths of allegiances there to regional governors and members of the Saudi Royal Family, who traditionally receive oaths of allegiance from the public on behalf of a new king or new crown prince.

The Governor of Medina, Prince Faisal Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, received some of the city’s religious leaders and members of the public at the Sultana Palace in the city, where they offered their condolences and oaths of allegiance to the new king and crown princes.

The Governor of Mecca, Prince Mishal Bin Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, also received the city’s religious leaders, scholars and preachers, as well as members of the public at the Royal Court in the city.

The Prince expressed his thanks to the public for the warm feelings they have shown in since King Abdullah’s passing, “which show the strong bond between the leadership and the people in every corner of the Kingdom, and which prove the depth of the love and loyalty the people of this blessed country have for their rulers.”

King Salman is now the seventh king in the country since the modern Saudi state was founded by King Abdulaziz Al-Saud in 1932. Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif is the first member of the family outside the sons of King Abdulaziz to be placed in line for the succession.