MOSCOW, January 23 (Sputnik) — US President Barack Obama expressed condolences over the death of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Saud, mentioning the king's "steadfast and passionate belief" in the US-Saudi relationship, Friday's presidential press release said.
"It is with deep respect that I express my personal condolences and the sympathies of the American people to the family of King Adbullah bin Abdulaziz and to the people of Saudi Arabia," the presidential statement said.
"As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions. One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the US-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond," Obama said.
The sixth king of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdulaziz died early Friday morning at the age of 90. The king had been suffering from pneumonia.
Salman bin Abdulaziz Saud was named the new king of Saudi Arabia.
