Saudi Crown Prince dies in New York
Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz has died, the palace announced on Saturday, leaving his brother Prince Nayef the likely successor to the ailing King Abdullah at a time of Middle East turmoil.
The crown prince, aged 80 according to government records released to the press, served as the oil kingpin's defence minister for nearly five decades but had been in the United States since mid-June for medical treatment. He was operated on in July.
A half brother of King Abdullah, Sultan had spent long periods abroad for undisclosed medical treatment.
A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Prince Sultan had been hooked up to life support systems at New York Presbyterian hospital and was declared "clinically dead" more than a month ago.
Condolences flooded into the kingdom from world leaders as news of the prince's death was confirmed. In Jordan, King Abdullah II opened the World Economic Forum in the country's Dead Sea resort town with a minute of silence in the late prince's honour, hailing him as a "champion of the Arab and Muslim cause."
Britain's PM David Cameron said he was "saddened" to hear of Sultan's death. "He had many friends in this country, and we have all benefited from his wisdom and expertise in international affairs over his long years of service," the prime minister said.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, despite sprains in ties with Riyadh over his security forces' deadly crackdown on anti-regime protests, also sent condolences. He "sent a message of condolences to Saudi King Abdullah over the death of his brother and crown prince, in which he expresses in the name of the Syrian people sincere condolences and sympathy," state news agency SANA said.
Sultan died while King Abdullah, 87, remains in hospital in Riyadh, a week after he had an operation on his back. The advanced age and failing health of the king and of his half-brothers in line to succeed him have raised concerns about the future of the oil giant in the face of the turmoil rocking the Arab world. —AFP
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| Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz |
Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz has died, the palace announced on Saturday, leaving his brother Prince Nayef the likely successor to the ailing King Abdullah at a time of Middle East turmoil.
The crown prince, aged 80 according to government records released to the press, served as the oil kingpin's defence minister for nearly five decades but had been in the United States since mid-June for medical treatment. He was operated on in July.
A half brother of King Abdullah, Sultan had spent long periods abroad for undisclosed medical treatment.
A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Prince Sultan had been hooked up to life support systems at New York Presbyterian hospital and was declared "clinically dead" more than a month ago.
Condolences flooded into the kingdom from world leaders as news of the prince's death was confirmed. In Jordan, King Abdullah II opened the World Economic Forum in the country's Dead Sea resort town with a minute of silence in the late prince's honour, hailing him as a "champion of the Arab and Muslim cause."
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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, despite sprains in ties with Riyadh over his security forces' deadly crackdown on anti-regime protests, also sent condolences. He "sent a message of condolences to Saudi King Abdullah over the death of his brother and crown prince, in which he expresses in the name of the Syrian people sincere condolences and sympathy," state news agency SANA said.
Sultan died while King Abdullah, 87, remains in hospital in Riyadh, a week after he had an operation on his back. The advanced age and failing health of the king and of his half-brothers in line to succeed him have raised concerns about the future of the oil giant in the face of the turmoil rocking the Arab world. —AFP
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