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France's Hollande sends condolences to Saudi Arabia over King Abdullah's death

Xinhua, January 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

French President Francois Hollande expressed condolences to Saudi Arabia's new monarch over the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, his office said on Friday.

In a communique, Hollande paid tribute to "a statesman whose acts have profoundly marked his country's history and whose view of a fair and lasting peace in the Middle East is relevant more than ever."

The French president will fly to Riyadh to personally give his condolences and pay his respects to the new king in the coming days, according the Elysee.

The French head also expressed France's commitment to further cement friendship ties with the world's leading oil exporter under the new king's reign.

Born in 1924, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was hospitalized in December for pneumonia and put on assisted breathing.

He died early on Friday and his half-brother Salman has become the new king of Saudi Arabia, while Prince Muqrin was declared the new crown prince. Endit