Riyadh, Jan 23: King Abdullah died early Fri of complications from respiratory disease and has been succeeded by his brother Salman, the Saudi royal family aforesaid in a statement.

“His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and every one members of the family and the nation mourn the shielder of the 2 Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at specifically one a.m. this morning,” the statement aforesaid.

The monarch was hospitalised Dec thirty one for medical tests.

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was born in 1924 and became king in August 2005 following the death of his brother King Fahd.

Abdullah underwent back operations in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Born in 1935, Salman became Saudi prince in June 2012 and served below Abdullah as deputy prime minister and defence minister.

One of Salman’s initial acts as king was to proclaim his brother Muqrin as prince.

Abdullah signed a decree last March designating Muqrin as second-in-line to the throne.

Abdullah, Salman and Muqrin are sons of the Saudi kingdom’s introduction monarch, Abdulaziz, additional usually called Ibn Saud, who died in 1953.