Breaking News: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah dies at 90

Throngs of mourners gathered in Mecca early
Friday just hours after Saudi Arabia’s King
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud died. He was 90.
Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz was appointed as the
new king, state television reported.​
The announcement of Abdullah’s death comes
several weeks after the state-run Saudi Press
Agency said he was suffering from pneumonia and
had been admitted to the hospital.
Services will be held Friday afternoon at the Imam
Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh, and
many world leaders are likely to pay their respects.
Jordan’s King Abdullah cut short his visit to
Davos, and is heading to Riyadh, according to a
Jordanian government source.
“King Abdullah’s life spanned from before the birth
of modern Saudi Arabia through its emergence as
a critical force within the global economy and a
leader among Arab and Islamic nations,” U.S.
President Barack Obama said in a statement.
“As our countries worked together to confront
many challenges, I always valued King Abdullah’s
perspective and appreciated our genuine and warm
friendship. As a leader, he was always candid and
had the courage of his convictions.”