Abdullah bin Abdulaziz RIYADH, Jan 23 (Agencies): Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has died Friday, royal officials have announced, weeks after he was admitted to hospital.
Abdullah, who had ruled since 2005 and was said to be aged about 90, had been suffering from a lung infection.
His 79-year-old half-brother, Salman, has been confirmed as the new king. Another of the late monarch's half-brothers, Moqren, was named the new crown prince.
Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef has been appointed second in line to the Saudi throne Friday. His appointment was among the first decrees announced by King Salman, the successor to King Abdullah.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia buried King Abdullah Friday as foreign leaders gathered in the capital for the funeral of the ruler of the world's top oil exporter and the spiritual home of Islam.
New King Salman joined Gulf rulers and leaders including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for a funeral service at Riyadh's Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque.
The body was quickly moved to nearby al-Od public cemetery where it was buried.
Citizens were invited to pledge allegiance to Salman at the royal palace.
Global leaders paid tribute to the late monarch, a cautious reformer who led his kingdom through a turbulent decade in a region shaken by the Arab Spring uprisings and Islamic extremism.
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