XJWoody
06-16-2012, 07:34
I saw this on WSJ.com awhile ago, and thought it deserved a thread.
RIYADH —Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz al Saud, heir to the Saudi throne, has died outside the kingdom, state television said Saturday.
Crown Prince Nayef was about 79, although his exact birth date in 1933 isn't recorded.
State television gave no cause of death, and began airing Quran readings after the announcement of his death.
Crown Prince Nayef, who also had been the country's interior minister since the 1970s, had been said to have suffered from a variety of serious health ailments.
Saudi state media reported in May he had traveled to Switzerland for medical appointments, after an extended trip to the Cleveland Clinic in the U.S. earlier this year.
His death reopens decisions about the Saudi succession. All of the sons of Saudi founder King Abdulaziz are now of advanced age, including King Abdullah, who was born about 1924—in those days, Saudis didn't typically record exact birth dates.
Crown Prince Nayef became crown prince in October 2011, succeeding Crown Prince Sultan, who also died of natural causes. Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the country's defense minister and another son of the former King Abdulaziz, is believed to be among the leading prospects to succeed Nayef as crown prince.
The official Saudi Press Agency said Nayef's burial will take place in the holy city of Mecca on Sunday.
WSJ Online, 6-16-12, By Ellen Knickmeyer
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My dos pesos? Adios MFer, and I hope the flames in his hell are lit by US-sourced natural gas.
RIYADH —Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz al Saud, heir to the Saudi throne, has died outside the kingdom, state television said Saturday.
Crown Prince Nayef was about 79, although his exact birth date in 1933 isn't recorded.
State television gave no cause of death, and began airing Quran readings after the announcement of his death.
Crown Prince Nayef, who also had been the country's interior minister since the 1970s, had been said to have suffered from a variety of serious health ailments.
Saudi state media reported in May he had traveled to Switzerland for medical appointments, after an extended trip to the Cleveland Clinic in the U.S. earlier this year.
His death reopens decisions about the Saudi succession. All of the sons of Saudi founder King Abdulaziz are now of advanced age, including King Abdullah, who was born about 1924—in those days, Saudis didn't typically record exact birth dates.
Crown Prince Nayef became crown prince in October 2011, succeeding Crown Prince Sultan, who also died of natural causes. Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the country's defense minister and another son of the former King Abdulaziz, is believed to be among the leading prospects to succeed Nayef as crown prince.
The official Saudi Press Agency said Nayef's burial will take place in the holy city of Mecca on Sunday.
WSJ Online, 6-16-12, By Ellen Knickmeyer
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My dos pesos? Adios MFer, and I hope the flames in his hell are lit by US-sourced natural gas.