Saudi's King Fahd dies in hospital

Last updated at 08:44 02 August 2005

King Fahd: Died in hospital

Saudi Arabia's King Fahd has died in hospital after a long illness. An official statement read out on state television, which announced the news, also pronounced Crown Prince Abdullah as monarch of the world's largest oil exporter.

The Queen and the Prime Minister led British tributes to King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, who died aged 84 today following a long illness.

The King's death sent oil prices up near to a new record, with traders jittery about possible policy changes by the world's largest producer under his successor, the former Crown Prince Abdullah.

But authorities in Riyadh did their utmost to assure the world of continuity under the new monarch, with spokesmen stressing that the succession had gone smoothly with the full support of all parts of the Saudi Royal Family.

Abdullah has effectively been in charge of the desert kingdom for several years, after Fahd suffered a debilitating stroke in 1995.

Current policies on oil and terrorism were developed under Abdullah's guidance, and no significant shift is expected as a result of his accession to the throne occupied by his half-brother since 1982.

Tony Blair hailed King Fahd as "a man of great vision and leadership" and "a good friend of the United Kingdom".

The Prime Minister said in a statement: "Our two countries have benefited very greatly over the years from his wise advice," said the Prime Minister in a statement.

"Under his guidance we have developed extremely close political, commercial and defence links. They will always be seen as his legacy." Buckingham Palace said the Queen extended her best wishes to the new King.

"The Queen was saddened to hear of the death of King Fahd, who led Saudi Arabia with wisdom and skill for 22 years," said the Palace in a statement. "During his reign, Britain and Saudi Arabia enjoyed a very close relationship.

"The Queen extends her best wishes to King Abdullah and looks forward to strengthening the bonds that link our two countries." The Queen is understood to have sent a private message of condolence to Abdullah.

A 'much-loved king'

Saudi Arabia's ambassador in London, Prince Turki al Faisal, described King Fahd as "a much loved king and truly someone who dedicated his life to the service of his people, to Islam and to the Arab world".

He said Abdullah had worked closely with the late king on the development of Saudi Arabia's domestic and international policies, including its approach to oil prices.

"I cannot imagine that there will be any particular change in that policy but rather a continuation," said Prince Turki.

Fahd died early today at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where he was admitted on 27 May for unspecified medical tests.

A statement read out on Saudi television this morning said: "With all sorrow and sadness, the royal court in the name of his highness Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and all members of the family announces the death of the servant of the two shrines, King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz."

Oil prices peaked at 61.23 US dollars for a barrel of US light crude in the wake of the announcement.

Fears of a hostile stand-off in Iran were also troubling traders as officials in the oil-rich country have set a deadline for EU negotiators to submit a list of incentives to stop it from restarting uranium reprocessing work.

Oil prices rocket

Oil prices hit an intra-day high of 62.10 US dollars a barrel on 7 July and remain around 40 per cent higher than a year ago.

But analysts at Barclays said: "We think that the succession of Crown Prince Abdullah is of little significance for Saudi Arabian oil price policy. "King Fahd has been ill for some time so the kingdom has had plenty of time to prepare."

King Fahd ascended to the throne on 13 June, 1982, having himself served as de facto ruler for almost a decade.

As Crown Prince in the 1970s, he helped oversee the modernisation of the kingdom founded by his father, funded by floods of oil money. But his reign saw the start of a decline in revenue from fuel which has depressed the incomes of many in the kingdom.

Its latter years were overshadowed by the development of Islamist fundamentalist groups such as the al Qaida network, which have carried out a number of attacks in the kingdom.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers who carried out the September 11 attacks in the US were Saudi citizens, and al Qaida leader, Osama bin Laden, is himself a Saudi national.

Fahd was blamed by some observers for fostering Islamic radicalism by making concessions to religious hard-liners of the Wahhabi sect in the hope of bolstering his image as a pious ruler.

His decision to allow US troops to be based on Saudi soil following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 enraged conservatives and provided al Qaida with one of its most potent rallying cries.

Governments around the world are keenly waiting to see whether Abdullah will take firmer action against extremists now he is king.

The Prince of Wales is travelling to Saudi Arabia tomorrow to "convey the Queen's and his condolences" to the Saudi Royal family, a spokesman for Clarence House said tonight.

Charles will be back in Britain by Thursday when he and the Duchess of Cornwall are set to visit the RNLI Thurso Lifeboat Station at Scrabster, Scotland.

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