Nazarbayev expresses condolence over death of Saudi Arabian King

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has expressed condolences over the death of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, Tengrinews reports citing the official website of the Kazakh President.

Saudi Arabian King Abdullah died on January 23 at age of 90. King Abdullah, who ascended to the throne in 2005 upon the death of his half-brother King Fahd had a pneumonia. He was hospitalized three weeks ago.

King Abdullah was replaced by his half-brother Salman as the absolute ruler of the world's top oil exporter and the spiritual home of Islam. "I ask God to help me succeed in my service to the dear people (of Saudi Arabia)," he wrote in his official Twitter account.

The Kazakh President Nazarbayev sent a telegram to King Salman, where he said that he learnt about the death of the Saudi Arabian King Abdullah with deep sorrow.

Kazakhstan’s President also emphasized the fact that King Abdullah devoted his life to protection of interests of his people and all the followers of Islam as well as to the development of humanity on the way towards justice and mercy.

“The people of Kazakhstan will always remember King Abdullah as a wise leader, respectable politician and a historical figure that made a significant contribution to the enhancement of the bilateral cooperation,” Nazarbayev wrote in the telegram.

On behalf of the people of Kazakhstan and on his own behalf, Nursultan Nazarbayev expressed sincere condolences to King Salman and the people of Saudi Arabia.

The Kazakh Senate Speaker Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev attended the funerals of King Abdullah on the behalf of Kazakhstan's President in Saudi Arabia on Friday following the afternoon prayers.

Meanwhile, the King Salman named his half-brother Muqrin, who is in his late 60s, the new crown prince. Abdullah, Salman and Muqrin are all sons of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud), who died in 1953.

By Assel Satubaldina