RIP King Abdullah
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 6:08 pm
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/saudi ... es-n291766Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has died, state television announced early Friday. He was 90.
King Abdullah's successor, half-brother Deputy Prime Minister Salman bin Abdul Aziz, became king immediately after his death, state television reported.
"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," state television said in a statement attributed to Salman.
Abdullah, who took power in 2005 after the death of his brother King Fahd, was admitted to the hospital on Dec. 31, state media reported at the time. After speculation about his health, all channels of Saudi TV on Friday began broadcasting recitations of the Quran. State television said King Abdullah died of pneumonia.