Sat Jan 24, 2015 09:10:27
Foreign leaders gathered in the Saudi capital for the funeral of the ruler of the world's top oil exporter and the spiritual home of Islam.
Saudi Arabia’s elderly King Abdullah died on Friday and was replaced by his brother Salman.
The royal court said in a statement that Abdullah, believed to be around 90 years old, died at 1:00 am local time on Friday, expressing its “great sadness and mourning”.
The late monarch’s half brother Moqren was named crown prince, according to the statement.
Abdullah was hospitalised in December suffering from pneumonia and had been breathing with the aid of a tube.
Mourners carrying the body of King Abdullah during his funeral at Riyadh's Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque on January 23, 2015.
mourners praying near the body of King Abdullah during his funeral at Riyadh's Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque on January 23, 2015.
Mourners gather around the grave of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah at the Al-Od cemetery in Riyadh on January 23, 2015 following his death in the early hours of the morning.
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