Days of mourning have been announced and flags flow on half-mast across the Arab world following the death of the former Saudi foreign minister, who oversaw four decades of diplomacy for the kingdom. Aljazeera has more:
The Royal Court announced on Thursday the death of Prince Saud al-Faisal, one of the highest profile members of the country’s ruling elite and once the world’s longest serving foreign minister.
He was appointed in 1975, before being replaced in April this year as part of major government reshuffle. He suffered from several health problems, including chronic back pain.
Funeral prayers will be held on Saturday night in the Muslim holy city of Mecca. Tributes poured in for the prince after news of his death was announced.
Both Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah cut short their participation in a summit in Switzerland’s Davos to take part in the funeral ceremony, with Amman announcing 40 days of mourning and Cairo seven.
