RIYADH, 5 August 2005 — Tens of thousands of Saudi citizens from all walks of life continued yesterday to pour into local governorates or make the journey to Riyadh to offer their allegiance to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. A flood of reactions from countries and organizations around the globe have been received by the Kingdom, many praising the late King Fahd for his support for their country or cause.
US Embassy spokesman Andrew Mitchell said a US delegation led by Vice President Dick Cheney is due to arrive to meet King Abdullah and offer condolences.
He said the US delegation will include President Bush’s father, former President George H.W. Bush, Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell. James Oberwetter, the US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, will also be a member of the American delegation.
State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the main focus of the state department “is on continuing the good work that we have done with the Saudi government and moving forward in our relationship under the new leadership.” Casey confirmed that the US delegation’s purpose was to convey condolences and talk with King Abdullah on his assumption of the throne.
On Wednesday, Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, signed the book of condolence at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington. In Riyadh, the books of condolence were signed by a large number of officials including foreign heads of state, members of royal families and dignitaries.
Hundreds of foreign heads of state, dignitaries and members of the royal families flocked to Riyadh on hearing the news of the death of King Fahd on Monday.
Among the first to arrive were heads of state and high-ranking officials from Britain, Japan, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Algeria, the Arab League, Turkey, Thailand, Syria, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Pakistan, Oman, India, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Indonesia, Czech Republic, China, Brunei, Bangladdesh, Australia and Azerbaijan
Thousands of cables of condolences have been received by King Abdullah from members of royal families, presidents, prime ministers and high-ranking officials of Arab, Islamic and friendly countries.
Prominent among those who offered their condolences in person yesterday include Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ahmar, speaker of the Yemeni Council of Deputies; Somali deputy premier and the Venezuelan energy minister. Britain’s prime minister, Tony Blair, and his accompanying delegation left Riyadh yesterday evening.
King Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail of Malaysia also left for Kuala Lumpur yesterday after offering condolences to King Abdullah.
Many Arab ministers and representatives of the Arab League agree that King Fahd was a great supporter of the League, Arab issues and the Palestinian cause. They told the Saudi Press Agency that the loss of King Fahd was a great blow to the Islamic and Arab world. Muhammad Subaih, Palestinian representative at the Arab League, said that King Fahd’s death was sad news to the Palestinian people as he stood by and supported them. The families of martyrs still remember his generosity and his continuous provision of financial support and housing.
“King Fahd stood strongly next to the Palestinian cause,” Subaih said. “His main goal was to support the Palestinian people and protect the sacred places.”
Abdul Lateef Al-Awadi, manager of the news department at Arab League, said King Fahd supported their media role. He said King Fahd made Saudi Arabia and its role influential in presenting the peace initiative at an Arab summit in Beirut in 2002. The president of the supreme judicial system in Palestine, Tayseer Al-Tamimi, called for a funeral prayer for King Fahd at Al-Aqsa Mosque and all Palestinian mosques.
Iyad Allawi, former Iraqi prime minister, said the loss of King Fahd was deeply felt by the Islamic and Arab world. He said he was sure that King Abdullah would carry on his good work. “The news of King Fahd’s death was shocking to many of us,” he said. “I am very sad at his departure because the Arab and Islamic world lost a leader of vision and wisdom. There are no words that could describe King Fahd and how great he was.”
Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz expressed his deepest condolences on the death of King Fahd, saying he is a great loss to the Islamic and Arab world. During his visit to the Saudi Embassy in Pakistan, he said Pakistan will always remember King Fahd’s support.
American media networks focused on the large number of people swearing allegiance to the new king and Crown Prince Sultan.
The Saudi Arabian Embassy in Australia opened its doors to the public to offer their condolences. Many officials, media personalities, businesspeople and diplomats crowded into the embassy to offer their condolences.
The Saudi Embassy in New Delhi was forced to provide three additional books for registering condolences because of the rush of mourners.
In Egypt, hundreds of Saudi citizens visited the Saudi Embassy to pledge allegiance to King Abdullah. The Saudi ambassador in Cairo, Ibrahim ibn Saad Al-Baraheem, said the large number of people visiting is a sign of the country’s unity.
In the Kingdom, Prince Meshaal ibn Saud, governor of Najran, greeted a number of local citizens, chairmen of government departments and military leaders who came to the palace to swear allegiance to King Abdullah and to Crown Prince Sultan. Prince Meshaal urged the Saudi citizens to stand as one behind the government for development and prosperity.
Riyadh Governor Prince Salman greeted many local citizens, chairmen of government departments and military leaders who came to pledge their allegiance to the new king. He also greeted president of the Yemeni Council, Abdullah Al-Ahmar, and Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia Ismail Harah together with delegations from Qatar and Ireland that came to offer their condolences.
Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed and Madinah Governor Prince Muqrin greeted officials and military personnel who came to offer condolences and swear allegiance to the new king.
