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World leaders in Saudi Arabia to pay tribute to late king | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
World leaders have gathered in Saudi Arabia to pay their respects following the death of King Abdullah on Friday. | |
British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande are among those in the capital, Riyadh. A US delegation, led by President Barack Obama, will arrive on Tuesday. | |
King Abdullah died aged 90. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Riyadh after Friday prayers. | King Abdullah died aged 90. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Riyadh after Friday prayers. |
King Salman, 79, has pledged continuity after his accession to the throne. | |
He moved swiftly to appoint heirs and ministers, including one prince from the ruling dynasty's third generation. | |
Several members of various royal families have also arrived in Riyadh. | |
The UK's Prince Charles, King Felipe VI of Spain and Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik are among the royals offering their condolences. | |
The BBC's Jonny Dymond says the long list of dignitaries is testament to Saudi Arabia's global standing. | |
King Abdullah died on Friday, weeks after being admitted to hospital with a lung infection. | |
Gulf leaders, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended the funeral. | |
US President Barack Obama paid tribute to Abdullah as a leader who "was always candid and had the courage of his convictions". UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised Abdullah's work "to promote dialogue among the world's faiths". | |
However, human rights groups said Saudi Arabia's human rights record had been dismal under Abdullah and urged Salman to do more to protect freedom of speech and women's rights. | However, human rights groups said Saudi Arabia's human rights record had been dismal under Abdullah and urged Salman to do more to protect freedom of speech and women's rights. |
Amnesty International spokesman Neil Durkin described Abdullah's human rights legacy as "disastrous", saying that "endemic torture in police cells and in prisons" remained. | Amnesty International spokesman Neil Durkin described Abdullah's human rights legacy as "disastrous", saying that "endemic torture in police cells and in prisons" remained. |
King Abdullah came to the throne in 2005 but had already been Saudi Arabia's de-facto leader for 10 years because his predecessor, King Fahd, had been debilitated by a stroke. | King Abdullah came to the throne in 2005 but had already been Saudi Arabia's de-facto leader for 10 years because his predecessor, King Fahd, had been debilitated by a stroke. |
Abdullah had suffered frequent bouts of ill health in recent years, and King Salman had recently taken on the ailing monarch's responsibilities. | Abdullah had suffered frequent bouts of ill health in recent years, and King Salman had recently taken on the ailing monarch's responsibilities. |
Analysis: Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent | Analysis: Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent |
In Saudi terms, King Abdullah was a reformer, making princes pay their phone bills and giving women their first ever seats in the high-level consultative council. The new King Salman, a staunch conservative, has put paid to any thoughts of radical reforms on his watch with his first speech as monarch. | In Saudi terms, King Abdullah was a reformer, making princes pay their phone bills and giving women their first ever seats in the high-level consultative council. The new King Salman, a staunch conservative, has put paid to any thoughts of radical reforms on his watch with his first speech as monarch. |
Saudi Arabia faces a number of challenges. The first is ensuring the succession passes smoothly. Then there is the ongoing threat from jihadists, both at home and across its borders - Saudi Arabia is sandwiched between the Islamic State (IS) group to the north and al-Qaeda in Yemen to the south. | Saudi Arabia faces a number of challenges. The first is ensuring the succession passes smoothly. Then there is the ongoing threat from jihadists, both at home and across its borders - Saudi Arabia is sandwiched between the Islamic State (IS) group to the north and al-Qaeda in Yemen to the south. |
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. | 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 not enough meaningful jobs for young Saudis. | Longer term, it faces a growing unemployment problem. About half the population is under 25 and there are not enough meaningful jobs for young Saudis. |
But the country does at least have oil in its favour. Saudi Arabia is one of the very few exporting countries to still make big margins on production and exploration - putting it in a powerful position on the world stage. | But the country does at least have oil in its favour. Saudi Arabia is one of the very few exporting countries to still make big margins on production and exploration - putting it in a powerful position on the world stage. |
Analysis: Turbulent times ahead | Analysis: Turbulent times ahead |
Viewpoints: King Abdullah's legacy | Viewpoints: King Abdullah's legacy |
Profile: King Salman | Profile: King Salman |
Regional media express grief | Regional media express grief |