Saudi capital quiet on day of mourning
26 Jan 2015 9:46 PM GMT
The normally gridlocked streets of the Saudi capital were quiet on Sunday after King Salman declared a day of mourning for his predecessor Abdullah, and more foreign leaders made their way to the kingdom.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was travelling to offer condolences to Salman, who acceded to the throne on Friday after Abdullah’s death at the age of about 90.
US President Barack Obama announced he would cut short a visit to India to travel to the kingdom on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia has long been a key US ally and last year joined the US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against the Islamic State jihadist group.
Obama “called King Salman bin Abdulaziz from Air Force One today to personally express his sympathies”, the White House said on Sunday.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was travelling to offer condolences to Salman, who acceded to the throne on Friday after Abdullah’s death at the age of about 90.
US President Barack Obama announced he would cut short a visit to India to travel to the kingdom on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia has long been a key US ally and last year joined the US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against the Islamic State jihadist group.
Obama “called King Salman bin Abdulaziz from Air Force One today to personally express his sympathies”, the White House said on Sunday.
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