Prince Abdullah Will Take Throne after Saudi King's Death

August 1st 2005

King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia died early Monday. King Fahd, who was born in 1923 in Riyadh, has been in poor health for 10 years following a debilitating stroke in 1995.  Fahd entered a Saudi Hospital on May 27^th of this year with acute pneumonia.  He died at 6 am local time.

Fahd came to the throne in 1982 at the height of the oil boom.  He reigned for 23 years, holding the Kingdom together through three regional wars.  For the past two years the Kingdom has faced violent attacks by al-Qaeda sympathizers.  Many al-Qaeda followers desire an end to the seven decades of Royal Family’s rule.

The information Minister Lyad bin Amin Madani read the official statement on State TV.  ‘’With deep sorrow and pain, the royal court... mourns the death of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd, due to illness,’’ The funeral is planned for Tuesday, giving time for foreign dignitaries to arrive. 

The King has been wheelchair bound and gave few public appearances since 1995.  He chaired occasional Cabinet meetings.  Most Saudi people were saddened but not surprised by his death.

Fahd’s half brother Crown Prince Abdullah, born in 1924, is next in line to take the throne. He has indicated that there will be no change in policy.  Abdullah has run the most of the day-to-day affairs of Saudi Arabia since Fahd’s stroke ten years ago.

Abdullah is the fifth son of Saudi Arabia’s founder King Abdul-Aziz to ascent to the throne.  He is considered a cautious reformer who has overseen some economic and political liberalization.    

By Dan Wilson
Best Syndication Staff Writer

Keywords and misspellings: alqada al-Queda Quada Faud Sawdi