This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30946159
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Saudi King Abdullah death: Cameron leads UK tributes | Saudi King Abdullah death: Cameron leads UK tributes |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| David Cameron has said he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the death of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. | David Cameron has said he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the death of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. |
| The prime minister said the king would be remembered for his "commitment to peace and for strengthening understanding between faiths". | The prime minister said the king would be remembered for his "commitment to peace and for strengthening understanding between faiths". |
| He will travel to Saudi Arabia to pay his condolences along with the Prince of Wales who will represent the Queen. | |
| But the government has been criticised for flying union flags at half mast on its buildings in Whitehall. | |
| King Abdullah, who was said to be aged about 90, had been suffering from a lung infection. | King Abdullah, who was said to be aged about 90, had been suffering from a lung infection. |
| He came to the throne in 2005 but had suffered frequent bouts of ill health, and was admitted to hospital a few weeks ago. | He came to the throne in 2005 but had suffered frequent bouts of ill health, and was admitted to hospital a few weeks ago. |
| His 79-year-old half-brother, Salman, has been announced as the new king. | His 79-year-old half-brother, Salman, has been announced as the new king. |
| Mr Cameron said: "My thoughts and prayers are with the Saudi royal family and the people of the kingdom at this sad time. | Mr Cameron said: "My thoughts and prayers are with the Saudi royal family and the people of the kingdom at this sad time. |
| "I sincerely hope that the long and deep ties between our two kingdoms will continue and that we can continue to work together to strengthen peace and prosperity in the world." | "I sincerely hope that the long and deep ties between our two kingdoms will continue and that we can continue to work together to strengthen peace and prosperity in the world." |
| Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the monarch had served his country with "great dignity and dedication". | Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the monarch had served his country with "great dignity and dedication". |
| 'Human rights reform' | |
| Government buildings in Whitehall lowered their union flags to half mast in respect of the Saudi king. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the decision "is in line with long-standing arrangements following the death of a foreign monarch". | |
| But it was criticised by Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, who tweeted: "Flying flags at half mast on gov buildings for the death of Saudi king is a steaming pile of nonsense. | |
| It also attracted strong criticism from human rights campaigners. | |
| The director of Amnesty International UK, Kate Allen, said: "No-one is flying flags for the scores of people Saudi Arabia executes each year after unfair trials, and we should focus on the human rights reality in Saudi Arabia not the emblems of diplomacy. | |
| "When the flags are run back up their flagpoles the UK government needs to move on from the tributes and put on public record their desire to see sweeping human rights reform under King Salman." | |
| Commentators and historians have also expressed their criticism at Westminster Abbey's decision to lower its flag to half mast. | |
| Author and former Conservative MP Louise Mensch tweeted: "Your flag flying insults every woman in the United Kingdom, HOW DARE YOU." | |
| Historian Tom Holland tweeted: "Hooray for British hypocrisy! Flags at 1/2-mast in Whitehall 4 the king of a country that lashes bloggers & executes converts 2 Christianity." | |
| The Abbey responded with a statement saying to not lower the flag would be a "noticeably aggressive comment" and would "not have done anything to support the desperately oppressed Christian communities of the Middle East". | |
| 'Sound ally' | 'Sound ally' |
| Former prime minister Tony Blair said he admired King Abdullah greatly. | Former prime minister Tony Blair said he admired King Abdullah greatly. |
| "Despite the turmoil of events in the region around him, he remained a stable and sound ally, was a patient and skilful moderniser of his country leading it step by step into the future," Mr Blair said. | "Despite the turmoil of events in the region around him, he remained a stable and sound ally, was a patient and skilful moderniser of his country leading it step by step into the future," Mr Blair said. |
| He paid tribute to the monarch's advocacy of "inter-faith relations", his embracing of education for women, and his investment in renewable energy. | He paid tribute to the monarch's advocacy of "inter-faith relations", his embracing of education for women, and his investment in renewable energy. |
| "And of course he launched the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002 which has stood the test of time as a potential basis for a solution to the Israeli Palestine issue," the ex-PM added. | "And of course he launched the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002 which has stood the test of time as a potential basis for a solution to the Israeli Palestine issue," the ex-PM added. |
| Pace of change | Pace of change |
| Sir William Patey, the former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said King Abdullah had brought in reforms in his country. | Sir William Patey, the former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said King Abdullah had brought in reforms in his country. |
| "To the outsiders, it looks as if Saudi Arabia hasn't changed at all, but to Saudis sometimes you hear them talk about the pace of change and they're not quite sure whether they can cope with it," he said. | "To the outsiders, it looks as if Saudi Arabia hasn't changed at all, but to Saudis sometimes you hear them talk about the pace of change and they're not quite sure whether they can cope with it," he said. |
| "King Abdullah went as fast as he thought the population of Saudi Arabia would bear." | "King Abdullah went as fast as he thought the population of Saudi Arabia would bear." |
| King Abdullah came to the UK on a state visit at the end of October 2007, staying at Buckingham Palace as a guest of the Queen. | King Abdullah came to the UK on a state visit at the end of October 2007, staying at Buckingham Palace as a guest of the Queen. |
| Six planes brought the king and his huge entourage to Heathrow Airport, from where a convoy of 84 limousines drove the party into London. | Six planes brought the king and his huge entourage to Heathrow Airport, from where a convoy of 84 limousines drove the party into London. |
| The king's death means Queen Elizabeth II is now the oldest monarch in the world, aged 88. | The king's death means Queen Elizabeth II is now the oldest monarch in the world, aged 88. |