Source: reuters // Reuters
* Abdullah has been resting in Morocco after U.S. surgeries
* U.S. president spoke to king on Wednesday
(Adds foreign minister postpones Algeria visit, details)
DUBAI, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz is alive, an adviser to a senior member of the ruling family told Reuters on Thursday, denying rumours about his health that had triggered a spike in the price of oil.
"The rumours aren't true," the Saudi-based source said.
Abdullah, around 87, has been resting in Morocco since January following a two-month stay in the United States where he underwent surgery twice after a blood clot complicated a slipped disc, state media have said.
Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal was in the Moroccan capital and postponed a visit to Algeria due to commitments in Morocco, a Saudi foreign ministry official said, giving no further details.
The official said Saud would give a news conference about his visit to Morocco.
Algeria's foreign ministry said Saud's trip to Algeria had been delayed for "personal reasons that concern Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal".
There has been no official statement by the Saudi government in response to the rumours about Abdullah's health. Riyadh does not typically respond to speculation. Two Gulf-based diplomats said they were unaware of any change to the king's health.
SPOKE TO OBAMA ON WEDNESDAY
North Sea Brent crude oil futures for March
The cost of insuring exposure to Saudi Arabian sovereign obligations for five years also spiked by 19 basis points from the previous day's close.
The White House said U.S. President Barack Obama had spoken to Abdullah on Wednesday about the political situation in Egypt, where unrest threatens to bring down Egypt's longtime leader.
"The president emphasised the importance of taking immediate steps toward an orderly transition that is meaningful, lasting, legitimate, and responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people," the White House said in a statement.
As home to Islam's holiest sites, as well as the birthplace of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, Saudi Arabia is central to global efforts to fight Islamic militancy.
Riyadh has been keen to show its allies there will be no power vacuum as health problems affect its octogenarian rulers. Since the death of the state's founder King Abdul-Aziz in 1953, the country has only been ruled by his sons.
A frail Crown Prince Sultan, another son of Abdul-Aziz who also had been away for unspecified treatment for much of the past two years, has returned to run the kingdom in Abdullah's absence.
With both Abdullah and Sultan in their 80s, speculation has arisen that Interior Minister Prince Nayef, 76 and a conservative, could take over in the future. (Reporting by Gulf bureaus)
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Egypt uprising weakens ailing Saudi king
Sat Feb 12, 2011 7:5PM
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File photo of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah (L) and former Egyptian President Hosni MubarakThe already-ailing Saudi Arabian King's health condition has reportedly deteriorated seriously due to his efforts to prevent the ouster of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud tried to rally the United States support for Mubarak's continued stay in power despite a popular Revolution in Egypt, urging the removal of the 30-year-long Egyptian leader's regime.
"These efforts certainly didn't help his health and probably harmed recovery," the US daily World Tribune citing an intelligence source as saying on Friday.
"He has suffered a major medical setback," the source said. The 86-year-old monarch, who is reportedly a close friend of Mubarak's, has been recovering from two operations in the US in late 2010.
Mubarak handed power over to the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces on Friday, giving in to 18 straight days of pro-democracy demonstrations.
The protests were fiercely confronted by Egyptian security forces. More than 300 people have lost their lives since the popular movements began on January 25, reports say.
Abdullah called Mubarak late last month to ensure him of his support, describing the popular movements as "tampering with Egypt's security and stability in the name of freedom of expression," AFP reported.
The king branded the protesters as "intruders" and said, "Saudi Arabia stands with all its power with the government and people of Egypt."
The Friday victory was followed by countrywide jubilation in Egypt and Yemen as well as international congratulatory messages, namely from Iran and the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah.
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Saudi king 'losing mental ability'
Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:28PM
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Saudi Arabia's King AbdullahSaudi Arabia's ailing monarch has reportedly experienced a major setback in his recovery process, showing signs of mental deterioration.
Citing Western intelligence sources, the US daily World Tribune said on Friday that the 86-year-old Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud was suffering from back and heart ailments as well as signs of dementia.
The king has been recovering from two operations in the United States in late 2010.
The news came after last Thursday's rumors about his death, which was only followed by an increase in the price of oil.
Saudi opposition sources announced that Abdullah has died on February 9 at his home in Morocco. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal, however, said on the following day that the monarch was in 'excellent shape.'
The intelligence sources said Abdullah's medical condition had deteriorated sharply over the last few days. "He has suffered a major medical setback," said one intelligence source, stressing that he was not in danger of imminent death.
King Abdullah tried to rally US support for former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's continued stay in power despite a popular Revolution in Egypt, urging the removal of the 30-year-long Egyptian leader's regime.
There are unconfirmed reports that he began fitting while talking on the phone with US President Barack Obama regarding the fate of Mubarak, who is a close friend of King Abdullah.
"These efforts certainly didn't help his health and probably harmed recovery," the source said.
Mubarak handed power over to the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces on Friday, giving in to 18 straight days of pro-democracy demonstrations.
After the victory of the Egyptian Revolution, similar demonstrations began in Arab countries including, Saudi Arabia's neighbors Yemen and Jordan. == Saudi security pressing issue after prince's death Mon, Jun 18 08:03 AM EDT By Angus McDowall RIYADH, June 18 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is under pressure to quickly choose a replacement for the late Crown Prince Nayef, who was heir to the kingdom's throne and its security chief, as it confronts rivalries and turmoil across the Middle East. While defence minister Prince Salman appears highly likely to be appointed crown prince, possibly when the formal condolence period ends on Tuesday night, it is not clear who will replace Nayef as interior minister. Nayef, who died on Saturday, oversaw security for 37 years and built a formidable apparatus that crushed al Qaeda inside the kingdom and remains a vital element of the global struggle to foil Islamist militants. His tough legacy, involving thousands of arrests of suspected militants, an intelligence network that infiltrated Islamist cells, and an intolerant approach to political dissenters, remains intact but will need a new chief. "My assumption would be that whoever is given the official job as minister of interior, the division of responsibilities in terms of counter-terrorism and broader internal security would continue as is," said Neil Partrick, a Gulf security expert at the London School of Economics. Two possible candidates for the security post are Nayef's brother Prince Ahmed, a veteran deputy interior minister who handles broader security issues including policing, and his son, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who now handles counter terrorism. The new crown prince will eventually succeed to power having to deal with significant domestic and external challenges, including a substantial security file. Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia fears an al Qaeda wing in yemen and sees rival Iran, which is mainly Shi'ite Muslim, as instigating unrest among its own Shi'ite minority. The Syria conflict also has elements of a proxy war between Tehran and Riyahd. And while Saudi Arabia emerged unscathed from last year's Arab Spring, the turmoil destabilised neighbouring Yemen and Bahrain and has brought ally Egypt to the brink of government by the Muslim Brotherhood, with which Riyadh has an uneasy relationship. HEIR APPARENT The kingdom's new heir apparent will also face a number of other challenges including long-term joblessness. Under Saudi law, King Abdullah can wait 30 days before declaring a new heir. But Saudis with close ties to the ruling family say a decision could be made as early as Monday night. "My sense is that there will not be any profound changes. Continuity will be the overriding theme," said Asaad al-Shamlan, a political science professor in Riyadh. Many analysts expect it to be Prince Salman, 76, a half-brother of the 89-year-old Abdullah and a full brother of Nayef, Salman would be likely to continue with cautious social and economic reforms, anlaysts said. "The thing that Salman's going to have to do is try and get some influence over some of the religious establishment in the country," said Michael Stephens, researcher at the Qatar-based Royal United Services Institute. "He's going to have to start commenting on regional security issues as well as foreign policy initiatives" Any incoming king is seen as likely to stick with Saudi Arabia's moderate oil pricing policy and to maintain its close alliances with the United States and Sunni Muslim Arab states. Saudi Arabia's line of succession does not pass from father to eldest son but along a line of brothers born to the kingdom's founder Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, who died in 1953. Around 20 brothers still survive but only a few of these might be considered contenders to rule the world's biggest oil exporter. Although Salman had long been seen as the next most obvious choice of king after Abdullah and two late crown princes, it is not clear who is best placed to come after him. Although some sons of Ibn Saud, such as the deputy interior minister, Prince Ahmed, the Riyadh governor, Prince Sattam, and the intelligence chief, Prince Muqrin have long government experience, the family might prefer one of the founder's grandsons. "We have seen Abdullah make pretty hard-headed decisions, unsentimental decisions, about family jobs. He chose Nayef over eight living princes. He has shown that age and seniority give way to competence and appetite for the job," said Robert Lacey, author of "Inside the Kingdom". That could point towards Prince Khaled al-Faisal, the governor of Mecca Province and a son of the late King Faisal, or Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, son of the late crown prince and Saudi Arabia's security chief. For an Interactive look at the Saudi royal family please click on http://link.reuters.com/nyw78s )) (Reporting By Angus McDowall; Editing by Angus MacSwan) == ALERT Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah in Intensive Care Unit By Abdullah Zafar - Jun 19th, 2012 (No Comment) 3 Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz has been admitted to an intensive care unit in a hospital, media reported on Monday. The King has been admitted to hospital for more medical tests after complaining from a bout of back pain. “Doctors have advised the 86-year-old monarch, who is widely believed to be in poor health, to rest more because of a slipped disc, the official SPA news agency said on Friday. “The king felt more pain in his back, so further tests were carried out at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh,” SPA reported. “It appears he has a blood clot in addition to his slipped disc, which is pressuring the nerves so the medical team advised him to rest and monitor the situation.” Media speculation on the king’s deteriorating health reignited on Wednesday, when the king resigned as head of the country’s National Guard and transferred the influential post to his son Prince Mitab bin Abdullah, 57, in an apparent sign that the elderly monarch is beginning to lessen some of his duties. King Abdullah has been head of the National Guard since 1962. He has also handed over his traditional supervisory duties for the annual hajj pilgrimage to his deputy prime minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. The king’s health problems come while Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, also in his 80s, has been abroad for much of the past two years as he sought health treatment for an unannounced illness widely believed to be cancer. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, the half brother of Saudi King Abdullah was announced dead. The 79-year-old Nayef, who was also the long-serving interior minister of Saudi Arabia, recently left the kingdom for medical treatment and was seen in Switzerland a few days ago.
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