Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has died, royal officials have announced, weeks after he was admitted to hospital.
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was the fifth of his brothers to take the throne.
Abdullah, who had ruled since 2005 and was said to be aged about 90, had been suffering from a lung infection.
His 79-year-old half-brother, Salman, has been confirmed as the new king.
Within hours of his accession to the throne of the oil-rich
kingdom, King Salman vowed to maintain the same policies as his
predecessors.
"We will continue adhering to the correct policies which
Saudi Arabia has followed since its establishment," he said in a speech
broadcast on state television.
Abdullah had suffered frequent bouts of ill health in recent
years, and King Salman had recently taken on the ailing monarch's
responsibilities.
Prior to announcing Abdullah's death, Saudi television cut to
Koranic verses, which often signifies the passing of a senior royal.
A statement said Abdullah had died at 01:00 (22:00 GMT Thursday).
BBC News, Jeddah Correspondent Sylvia Smith,
Here in Saudi Arabia's second city, the streets were quiet
this morning as many people flocked to mosques for Friday prayers. There
is a subdued sadness in the air as Saudis take in the loss of their
king.
People throughout the kingdom are mourning a man whom many
viewed as a good monarch. A Jedawi I spoke to said that although it was
known that Abdullah was ailing, to wake up to news of the king's death
was distressing. Another Jedawi referred to the loss as like a family
member passing away.
It is only after the king is later laid to rest, that people
here and in the kingdom at large can begin to adjust to his passing.
Another of the late king's half-brothers, Muqrin, who is in his
late 60s, has been named the new crown prince, according to an official
statement.
Abdullah, Salman and Muqrin are all sons of the founder of
modern Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz, usually referred to as Ibn Saud,
who died in 1953.
King Salman called on the royal family's Allegiance Council
to recognize Muqrin as his heir. He swiftly appointed Interior Minister
Prince Mohammed bin Nayef as deputy crown prince, making him second in
line to the throne, and named his own son, Mohammed bin Salman, as defense minister.
Other ministers, including foreign, oil and finance were kept in place, state TV reported.
King Salman
- Born on 31 December 1935
- Son of Princess Hassa al-Sudairi
- Governor of Riyadh from 1955-1960 and 1963-2011
- Appointed defense minister upon death of his brother Crown Prince Sultan
- Owns important stake in one of the Arab world's largest media groups
Profile: King Salman
The new king's profile was updated on his official Twitter account, where he wrote: "I ask God to help me succeed in my service of the dear [Saudi] people."
In keeping with traditions of Wahhabism - the
ultra-conservative form of Sunni Islam followed by the kingdom - King
Abdullah will be buried in an unmarked grave immediately after Friday
prayers.
The Saudi religious establishment views every aspect of life
and death as a submission to God's supreme will, and protocol permits no
official mourning period. Government offices stay open and flags remain
at full mast.
Analysis: Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent
Saudi Arabia under King Salman faces a number of challenges.
The first is ensuring the succession passes smoothly without any
divisive jockeying for power within the ruling family. Then there is the
ongoing threat from jihadists, both at home and across its borders.
Saudi Arabia is now sandwiched between an aggressive Islamic
State (IS) to the north and al-Qaeda in Yemen to the south. Saudi
warplanes have joined the US-led coalition in air strikes against IS,
but this is deeply unpopular with many Saudis.
The government has yet to find a way to cope with mild calls
for reforms, and is abusing anti-terror laws to silence reformers and
punish its critics. Longer term, it faces a growing unemployment
problem. About half the population is under 25 and there are nowhere
near enough meaningful jobs for young Saudis.
But the country does at least have oil in its favor. With
prices below $45 a barrel, Saudi Arabia is one of the very few exporting
countries to still make big margins on production and exploration. That
puts it in a powerful position on the world stage.
US President Barack Obama expressed his personal sympathies, and those of the American people, on Abdullah's death.
"As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his
convictions. One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate
belief in the importance of the US-Saudi relationship as a force for
stability and security in the Middle East and beyond," he said.
Vice-President Joe Biden tweeted that he would lead a delegation to Riyadh to pay respects.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said Abdullah would be
remembered for his "commitment to peace and for strengthening
understanding between faiths".
Jordan's King Abdullah II cut short a visit to Davos,
Switzerland, to travel to Saudi Arabia, as Jordan's royal court declared
40 days of mourning.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin praised Abdullah's "grounded,
considered and responsible leadership", while Iran offered Saudi Arabia
its condolences and said its foreign minister would travel to Riyadh
for an "official ceremony" on Saturday.
Frank Gardner says Saudi Arabia could face an increasing internal security problem following the death of King Abdullah
King Abdullah
was the 13th of the 45 sons of King Abdulaziz. He is believed to have
been born in August 1924 in Riyadh, although there is some dispute about
his actual birth date.
In 1962 he was appointed commander of the Saudi National Guard, where he earned the respect and loyalty of the desert tribes.
When he came to the throne in 2005 he succeeded another
half-brother, Fahd. However, he had already been Saudi Arabia's de-facto
leader for 10 years because his predecessor had been debilitated by a
stroke.
Correspondents say Abdullah was seen as a reformer at home, albeit a slow and steady one.
He allowed mild criticism of his government in the press, and hinted that more women should be allowed to work.
King Salman spent 48 years as governor of Riyadh Province before becoming crown prince and defense minister.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says it is thought unlikely that he will embark on any great changes.
In a recent meeting with the BBC in Jeddah, he appeared alert
and well-briefed but walked with the aid of a stick, our correspondent
adds.
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elections.
