BREAKING NEWS: Saudi king dies

Saudi King Abdullah dead – state TV

_{Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has died in hospital while undergoing treatment for pneumonia. An official statement has named Saudi Crown Prince Salman the new king.}

RT

22 January, 2015

"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," said the statement on Saudi Arabian state TV channel attributed to Salman.

Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud (Reuters/Jacques Brinon)

Prior to the confirmation, conflicting reports suggested that the Saudis had initially dismissed the news of the king's death on social media. However, Saudi television cut to Koranic verses early on Friday – a practice known to signify the death of a senior royal, Reuters reported.

King Abdullah had been in hospital for several weeks as he had been suffering from pneumonia and temporarily needed to breathe through a tube on account of his illness.

Abdullah was officially appointed king in 2006, but prior to that he had run the country for at least 10 years as de facto regent, after predecessor King Fahd suffered a debilitating stroke.

The royal’s age is not officially known, it is believed that he was born in 1923, according to Reuters.

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