Egypt’s Al-Sisi mourns King Abdullah

Last updated: January 23, 2015 12:42 pm

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King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia has called for a conference to discuss economic support for Egypt. (AFP Photo)

President AbdelFattah Al-Sisi offered his condolences “on behalf of the Egyptian people” to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and “prayed that God grant him good for all that he has given his people,” a presidential statement said Friday morning.

The 90-year-old Abdallah died early Friday morning after spending weeks inside a hospital.

“The Egyptian people will not forget the historical positions of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, may God have mercy on him, towards Egypt and its people,” the statement read, adding that there was “Arab solidarity and joint efforts between the sons of the Arab and Islamic nations.”

Abdullah has held the throne of Saudi Arabia since 2005.

Al-Sisi announced he would cut his activities in the World Economic Forum in Davos short to mourn Abdullah.

The presidential statement added that the Saudi Arabian kingdom and the Arab world “have lost a great leader who offered a lot to his nation and its people. History will record his honest and loyal achievements in defence of Arabism and Islam.”

Due to the bad whether conditions, Al-Sisi announced he will be unable to make it to Abdullah’s funeral. Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb is to attend on behalf of him.

There will be a nation-wide state of mourning for seven days in Egypt, state-media announced.

The Egyptian Ministry of Religious Endowments also announced that prayers for the deceased king will be taking place in mosques all over Egypt on Friday.