New Saudi king takes throne, involves unity among Muslims

RIYADH: Abdullah, a cautious reformer World Health Organization diode the US-allied Gulf state through a turbulent decade in a very region agitated by the Arab Spring uprisings and political orientation, died early Fri aged concerning ninety.

Saudi Arabia´s new King Salman vowed Fri to stay his oil-rich Muslim kingdom on a gradual course and affected to cement his hold on power following his blood brother King Abdullah´s death.

He necessitated unity and commonness among Muslims and vowed to figure within the defence of the causes of our nation.

In his initial public statement because the new ruler, seventy nine year recent King Salman vowed to stay, with God´s strength, connected to the straight path that this state has walked since its institution.

Moving to clear uncertainty over the transition to following generation, Salman named his kinsman, Interior Minister aristocrat Mahomet bin Nayef, 55, as second in line to the throne behind prince Moqren, 69.

Salman conjointly appointed one in every of his own sons, aristocrat Mahomet, as defence minister of the world´s high oil bourgeois and also the non secular home of Islam. His appointment helps to solidify management by the new king´s Sudayri branch of the royalty.

Salman joined Gulf rulers and leaders as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for a straightforward ceremonial service at Riyadh’s Muslim Turki bin Abdullah house of prayer on Fri.

World leaders praised the late Abdullah as a key intermediator between Muslims and also the West, however campaigners criticised his human rights record and urged Salman to try and do a lot of to safeguard freedom of speech and women’s rights.

Abdullah’s body, wrapped in a very cream-coloured shroud, was quickly affected to close Al-Od public burial site wherever to keep with tradition it absolutely was buried in associate unmarked grave. voters were invited to pledge allegiance to Salman at the royal palace.

Officials failed to disclose the reason for Abdullah´s death, however the late king had been hospitalised in December full of respiratory disorder and had been respiration with the help of a tube.

Obama hails ´valued´ ally

President Barack Obama was fast to pay tribute to Abdullah as a valued ally. below Abdullah, World Health Organization took the throne in 2005, Riyadh has been a key ally of Washington within the Arab world, last year change of integrity the US-led coalition ending air strikes against the monotheism State (IS) militant cluster in Asian nation and Irak.

Other tributes came in from foreign leaders, with French President Francois Hollande hailing Abdullah as a pol whose work deeply marked the history of his country.

The closeness and strength of the partnership between our 2 countries is an element of King Abdullah´s gift, Obama same in a very statement shortly when the monarch´s death.

As the high producer within the Organisation of fossil fuel commercialism Countries (OPEC), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been the drive behind the cartel’s refusal to slash output to support oil costs, that have fallen by over fifty p.c since Gregorian calendar month. however costs surged Fri, amid uncertainty over whether or not the new king would maintain that policy.

Cameron can travel Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Sabbatum to pay his respects face to face, landscaper Street same. The International Energy Agency´s chief economic expert same he failed to foresee major policy shifts.

Royal family stalwart

The kingdom is additionally home to Islam´s holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, and its role as a leader for Sunnis has seen it vying for influence with Shia-dominated Asian nation. Behind his thick, invariably pitchy hair and face fungus, Abdullah had a shrewd grasp of regional politics.

It has conjointly compete a key role in supporting opposition to Iran-backed President Bashar al-Assad of Asian nation, permitting United States of America troops to use its territory to coach rebel fighters.

Wary of the rising influence of movements, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been a generous supporter of Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi since the army´s ouster of Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Abdullah pushed through cautious changes whereas in power, difficult conservatives with moves like as well as ladies within the Shura Council, associate informative  body.

Salman, the new king, is wide expected to follow closely in Abdullah´s footsteps, in foreign and energy policy likewise as in creating moderate reforms to the deeply conservative kingdom.

He promoted the kingdom´s economic development and oversaw its accession to the globe Trade Organisation, sound into the country´s huge oil wealth to make new economic cities, universities and high-speed railways. however Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains powerfully criticised for a dismal human rights record, as well as the imprisonment of dissidents. it's conjointly the sole country within the world that doesn't enable ladies to drive.

Recent years have seen considerations over his health when operations on his back, however Salman took on associate progressively high-profile role as Abdullah´s own health problems forced him from the limelight.

Salman may be a stalwart of the royalty attributable with reworking Riyadh throughout his period of time as governor from a backwater to a thriving capital.