Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has died at the age of 90, and will be succeeded by his 79-year-old half-brother, Prince Salman.
RIYADH - Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz died on Friday after devoting his life to leading his oil-rich kingdom toward prospecrity, and his half-brother -- former Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud -- received the pledge of allegiance as the country's new king from members of the royal family.
On the same day, Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz received the pledge of allegiance as the new crown prince.
"With great sorrow and grief His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1 a.m. this morning (2200 GMT Thursday)," a Saudi Royal court statement said.
Abdullah, born in 1924, was hospitalized in December for pneumonia and had been breathing with aid. On Jan. 2, the Royal Court announced that he was on temporary ventilator for respiratory infection.
Both King Salman and Crown Prince Muqrin will receive pledges of allegiance from citizens on Friday evening.
The news of Abdullah's death spurred oil prices in main trading markets around the world, which had lost more than half their value since June 2014, when they were sitting at more than 100 U.S. dollars a barrel.
U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for March delivery soared as much as 3.1 percent in New York, while Brent crude for March jumped 1.09 dollars, or 2.25 percent, to 49.61 dollars.
The price spikes come after months of sharp falls in the energy markets as soaring supplies clash with slowing demand.
Saudi Arabia, the main producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has rejected calls from some OPEC members to slash output, preferring instead to lower prices.
In response to the death of the Saudi king, U.S. President Barack Obama expressed condolences and offered sympathy Thursday to the people of Saudi Arabia upon the death of King Abdullah, an important ally and a major force in the Muslim world.
The White House also announced that Vice President Joe Biden would lead a U.S. delegation to Saudi Arabia in the coming days to pay respects to the king's family.
In a statement, Obama credited Abdullah for being dedicated to the education of his people and for greater outreach to the international community.
Selected as crown prince in 1982, Abdullah had been responsible for the day-to-day running of the country after late King Fahd suffered a stroke in 1995.
He is seen as the main force behind the unprecedented reforms in the past years, including the first communal elections and giving women new professional career choices. He is also credited with a set of measures to attract foreign investments and create job opportunities.
Salman was appointed as crown prince and deputy premier in 2012 after the death of Saudi Arabia's heir apparent and interior minister prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. And he had served as a defense minister since 2011.
Salman, born in 1935, had increasingly taken on the duties of the king over the past year as his ailing predecessor Abdullah became more incapacitated.
The new king appeared to back Abdullah's reforms, but he has also voiced concerns about moving too fast.
Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz was appointed as the second-in-line to the throne after his half-brothers King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman in 2014.
Muqrin, born in 1945, the youngest of sons of Abdulaziz, is the second deputy prime minister.
He has served as an adviser and special envoy of King Abdullah since 2012, previously serving as the head of Saudi intelligence.
He is believed to be supportive of Abdullah's economic and social reforms. (Xinhua)