Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz has died at 90, state TV said early Friday.He had been in a Riyadh hospital since December suffering from pneumonia.Abdullah, the force behind OPEC and a U.S. ally in the fight against al-Qaeda, came to power in 2005 after his half-brother King Fahd died. But he had been the kingdom's de facto ruler since a stroke incapacitated his brother 10 years earlier.Abdullah was succeeded by his 79-year-old half-brother, Crown Prince Salman, the royal court said ina statement, Agence France-Press reported. Abdullah's half-brother Moqren was named crown prince.The king died at 1 a.m. Friday, according to the official statement read by a TV presenter. It was accompanied by video of worshipers at the Kaaba in Mecca, the Associated Press said.Before the announcement, a memberof the royal family wrote on Twitter that the king "is fine and there is no truth to the rumours going around," Reuters reported.President Obama said in a statement it was "with deep respect that I express my personal condolences and the sympathies of the American people" to the king's family and all Saudis.He noted that the king's life "spannedfrom before the birth of modern SaudiArabia through its emergence as a critical force within the global economy and a leader among Arab and Islamic nations. He took bold steps in advancing the Arab Peace Initiative, an endeavor that will outlive him as an enduring contribution to the search for peace in the region."Obama said he always valued Abdullah's perspective "and appreciated our genuine and warm friendship. As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions. "Vice President Joe Biden will lead a presidential delegation to Saudi Arabia to offer condolences and pay respect to Abdullah's family and the country, he announced on Twitter.Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States had "lost a friend" with Abdullah's death. He commended the king for investing in Saudi Arabia's people, infrastructure and economic development."Even as he battled age and illness, he held on to his sense of determination," Kerry said in a statement. "He was so proud of the Kingdom's journey, a brave partner infighting violent extremism who proved just as important as a proponent of peace."Former President George H. W. Bush said he was "deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my dear friendand partner King Abdullah."He called the monarch "a wise and reliable ally, helping our nations buildon a strategic relationship and enduring friendship.""Of course, following the invasion of Kuwait, I will never forget the way Saudi Arabia and the United States stood together against a common foe — marking a moment of unparalleled cooperation between two great nations."Abdullah was known for having tried to modernize the ultraconservative Muslim kingdom, including small but important steps to create more opportunities for women. Obama noted that his "vision" was"dedicated to the education of his people and to greater engagement with the world."He was no advocate for democracy, however. He and his fellow Sunni Muslim monarchs saw popular uprisings as threats to their lock on power, and they fought to keep the"Arab Spring" from reaching the Gulf.His biggest focus was limiting the influence of Saudi Arabia's main Middle East rival, mainly Shiite Iran. Abdullah also maneuvered to keep the radical Islamic State from posing a direct threat to the House of Saud.The king had known and dealt with many Americans since 1962, when he was named head of Saudi Arabia'sNational Guard, an internal security force largely equipped and trained bythe United States.But as the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques — his official title — he often pushed back against Washington, earning him a reputation of being less pro-American than his predecessors.Saudi experts said it was undeserved."His reputation as anti-American is absolutely untrue,'' the late James Akins, a former U.S. ambassador to Riyadh, once said.Years ago, another diplomat said Abdullah reminded him of Spencer Tracy in his gruffness, shrewdness and sense of fun. He enjoyed a good story. Saudis called him "Our Abdullah.'' Abdullah means "servant of God" in Arabic.Abdullah was born in Riyadh in 1924, one of the 49 sons of Saudi Arabia's founder, King Abdul-Aziz Al Saud. Buthe was the only son the king fatheredwith Abdullah's mother, who was from a Bedouin tribe.The king's death leaves Queen Elizabeth II as the world's oldest-living monarch. Next month she hits her 63rd anniversary on the throne, and on Sept. 10 she will pass Queen Victoria as the longest-reigning British monarch. Victoria is her great-great grandmother.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/01/22/saudi-king-abdullah-dead/22184759/

RIP sir