SAUDI ARABIA-: Prince Talal bin AbdulAziz says the final decision to choose a successor to Crown Prince Sultan lays with King Abdullah
Record ID:
188799
SAUDI ARABIA-: Prince Talal bin AbdulAziz says the final decision to choose a successor to Crown Prince Sultan lays with King Abdullah
- Title: SAUDI ARABIA-: Prince Talal bin AbdulAziz says the final decision to choose a successor to Crown Prince Sultan lays with King Abdullah
- Date: 23rd October 2011
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 22, 2011) (REUTERS) PRINCE TALAL BIN ABDULAZIZ WALKING TO NEWS CONFERENCE PRINCE TALAL IN NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRINCE TALAL BIN ABDULAZIZ AL SAUD, BROTHER OF CROWN PRINCE SULTAN, SAYING: "Things are in order thanks to the wise leadership represented in King Abdullah bin AbdulAziz because of the allegiance system, we urge this system to be activated during the lifetime of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz so things will go smoothly and in a clear way, and in order to avoid whatever that might disturb these things in the future. We do not want the enemies of the country to rejoice, but we want the friends and supporters (to smile)." MAN LISTENING TO PRINCE TALAL WIDE OF CONFERENCE AND REPORTER ASKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRINCE TALAL BIN ABDULAZIZ AL SAUD, BROTHER OF CROWN PRINCE SULTAN, SAYING: "The allegiance system exists and we urge it to be activated during the lifetime of King Abdullah bin AbdulAziz, this is one of the essential matters that has preoccupied my mind for a while, I hope this will be done but the final opinion belongs to (King) Abdullah bin AbdulAziz." REPORTER ASKING WHETHER SAUDI ARABIA WELCOMES GADDAFI'S DEATH (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRINCE TALAL BIN ABDULAZIZ AL SAUD, BROTHER OF CROWN PRINCE SULTAN, SAYING: "Thanks to God almighty who finished this dictator who had suffocated Libyans for 40 years. What is required now of the Libyan brothers is to hold together and not to allow things to stray from the pluralist democratic principles that were drawn up by the revolutionaries for Libya's future." REPORTERS STANDING AT END OF CONFERENCE PRINCE TALAL LEAVING CONFERENCE ROOM JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 22, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STREETS IN JEDDAH SECRETARY GENERAL OF ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COUNTRIES (OIC) PROF.EKMELDDIN IHSANOGLU SPEAKING TO HIS SECRETARY AT HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY GENERAL OF ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COUNTRIES (OIC) PROF. EKMELDDIN IHSANOGLU, SAYING: "Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz was a great leader of this country, an important and outstanding figure in the world affairs, and a staunch supporter of OIC and Islamic solidarity and he was an outstanding philanthropic benefactor where his charity organisation was helpful all over the world." VARIOUS OF IHSANOGLU WORKING AT HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY GENERAL OF ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COUNTRIES(OIC)PROF. EKMELDDIN IHSANOGLU, SAYING: "We feel very sad and sorry for his demise, I submit all my sympathy to the people, to his family, to the nation in Saudi Arabia and to the Muslim world, I wish him mercy and pray to God to rest his soul in peace." BIG POSTER OF SAUDI KING ABDULLAH AND CROWN PRINCE SULTAN VARIOUS OF ALI ASHRI, THE EGYPTIAN CONSUL-GENERAL IN JEDDAH WORKING AT HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALI ASHRI, EGYPTIAN CONSUL-GENERAL IN JEDDAH, SAYING: "His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, may God have mercy on him, a man of charity, generosity, has many great and honourable positions on a national, Arab and Islamic level. He brought a lot for his country and his people, may have God have mercy on him." VARIOUS OF STREETS
- Embargoed: 7th November 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Royalty,Domestic Politics,Royalty
- Reuters ID: LVAECX3KNNE3HE2WQ4J9TYOCT4EA
- Story Text: Saudis voiced their grief on Saturday (October 22) hours after the country announced the kingdom's Crown Prince Sultan had died.
Prince Sultan, whose age was officially given as 80 and who died in New York of colon cancer early on Saturday Saudi time, had been a central figure in Saudi decision-making since becoming defence minister in 1962 and was made crown prince in 2005.
The death opens the way for Interior Minister and reputed conservative Prince Nayef to become the likely heir apparent of the world's top oil exporter.
Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Brother Of Crown Prince Sultan said it would be up to the King Abdullah bin AbdulAziz to decide on transition is done.
"Things are in order thanks to the wise leadership represented in King Abdullah bin AbdulAziz because of the allegiance system, we urge this system to be activated during the lifetime of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz so things will go smoothly and in a clear way, and in order to avoid whatever that might disturb these things in the future. We do not want the enemies of the country to rejoice, but we want the friends and supporters (to smile)," said Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and added, "The allegiance system exists and we urge it to be activated during the lifetime of King Abdullah bin AbdulAziz, this is one of the essential matters that has preoccupied my mind for a while, I hope this will be done but the final opinion belongs to (King) Abdullah bin AbdulAziz.
The Prince also commented on the killing of ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi and said his death would give the Libyan people a fresh start.
"Thanks to God almighty who finished this dictator who had suffocated Libyans for 40 years. What is required now of the Libyan brothers is to hold together and not to allow things to stray from the pluralist democratic principles that were drawn up by the revolutionaries for Libya's future," he said.
Saudi analysts predicted an orderly transition at a time when much of the rest of the Middle East is in turmoil as populations have risen up against their autocratic leaders.
Posters across the capital Riyadh proudly display slogans championing the ruling family's eight decades in power.
Sultan's health had declined in recent years and he spent long periods outside the kingdom for medical treatment. A 2009 U.S. diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks described him as "to all intents and purposes incapacitated".
Saudi Arabia announced a long line of benefits for its citizens in the wake of the Arab Spring that has toppled three long-standing dictatorships to date.
Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) Professor Ekmelddin Ihsanoglu sent condolences to the family.
"Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz was a great leader of this country, an important and outstanding figure in the world affairs, and a staunch supporter of OIC and Islamic solidarity and he was an outstanding philanthropic benefactor where his charity organisation was helpful all over the world," said Ihsanoglu.
"We feel very sad and sorry for his demise, I submit all my sympathy to the people, to his family, to the nation in Saudi Arabia and to the Muslim world, I wish him mercy and pray to God to rest his soul in peace," Ihsanoglu added.
Saudi forces have warned Saudis of emulating the tide of unrest, helped crush a pro-democracy uprising led by Bahrain's Shi'ite majority and also cracked down on pro-democracy activists at home, especially in its oil-rich east.
Funeral services for Sultan, who died on Friday (October 21) New York time, will be held on Tuesday (October 25) in Riyadh.
Kuwait, where the ruling family has been allied to the al-Saud family for more than a century, said it would mark Sultan's death with three days of official mourning. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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