Nazarbayev expresses condolence over death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabian

    By Assel Satubaldina
    President Nursultan Nazarbayev has expressed his condolences over the death of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, Tengrinews reports, citing the Kazakh president's official website.
    Saudi Arabian King Abdullah died on January 23 at age of 90. King Abdullah, who ascended to the throne in 2005 upon the death of his half-brother King Fahd had pneumonia. He was hospitalized three weeks ago.
    King Abdullah was replaced by his half-brother Salman as the absolute ruler of the world's top oil exporter and the spiritual home of Islam.
    "I ask God to help me succeed in my service to the dear people (of Saudi Arabia)," he wrote on his official Twitter account.
    President Nazarbayev sent a telegram to King Salman, where he said he learned of the death of the Saudi Arabian King Abdullah with deep sorrow.
    The president also stressed that King Abdullah devoted his life to the protection of the interests of his people and all the followers of Islam as well as to the development of humanity on the way towards justice and mercy.
    “The people of Kazakhstan will always remember King Abdullah as a wise leader, a respectable politician and a historical figure that made a significant contribution to the enhancement of bilateral cooperation,” Nazarbayev wrote in his message.
    On behalf of the people of Kazakhstan and himself, Nazarbayev expressed sincere condolences to King Salman and the people of Saudi Arabia.
    Senate Speaker Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev attended the funerals of King Abdullah on the behalf of the Kazakh President in Saudi Arabia on Friday following afternoon prayers.
    Meanwhile, King Salman has named his half-brother Muqrin, who is in his late 60s as the new crown prince. Abdullah, Salman and Muqrin are all sons of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud), who died in 1953, Tengrinews reports.