Royal officials announced on Friday, January 23rd, 2015 that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia had died. It was reported that he had been in poor health for the past several months and was suffering from pneumonia.
“It is with deep respect that I express my personal condolences and the sympathies of the American people to the family of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and to the people of Saudi Arabia,” President Obama said in a statement released by the White House tonight.
The statement credits Abdullah with taking “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.”
Read the full story: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Dies; Witnessed A New Era
King Abdullah inherited Saudi Arabia’s throne upon his brother’s death in 2005 and was considered to be a powerful ally in the fight against terrorism.
During his reign he maintained close relations with United States and Britain and bought billions of dollars worth of defense equipment from both states. He also gave women the right to vote and to compete in the Olympics.Furthermore, Abdullah maintained the status quo during the waves of protest in the kingdom during the Arab Spring.
Read more about Abdullah’s reign: Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
