RIYADH, 1 August 2005 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd died today following an illness, the Royal Court announced. Crown Prince Abdullah has been named the new king while Prince Sultan has been elected the crown prince, it added.
“With deep sorrow and pain, the royal court... mourns the death of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd,” said an official statement read out on state television by Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani.
“The royal family members have acknowledged Crown Prince Abdullah as the king of the country ... after which Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the king of Saudi Arabia King Abdullah chose Prince Sultan as crown prince and the family members acknowledged that,” the statement said.
Saudi citizens will start pledging their allegiance to King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan at the Government Palace in Riyadh on Wednesday afternoon, the statement said. Funeral Prayer for the late king will be held at Imam Turki ibn Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh tomorrow after Asr prayers.
King Fahd ascended the throne of Saudi Arabia in June 1982, at the height of the country’s economic boom, and during his 23-year rule the Kingdom witnessed tremendous progress in political, economic, educational and social areas.
