Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — World leaders arrived in Riyadh on Saturday and more are expected on Sunday to offer condolences on the death of King Abdullah, who died early on Friday, testimony to the Kingdom's important role in international arena. US President Barack Obama has cut short his visit to India, canceling a planned trip to the Taj Mahal, to “pay respects” to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the White House said on Saturday. The White House said Obama would travel to Riyadh from New Delhi on Tuesday morning to meet the new monarch. Those who arrived on Saturday included French President Francois Hollande, Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani, Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Spain's King Felipe VI, King of Netherlands Willem-Alexander, Austria's Prime Minister Werner Faymann, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Crown Prince of Norway Haakon Magnus, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, Crown Prince of Denmark Frederik Andre Henrik, Russian Prime Minister Dmitriy Medvedev, Deputy Prime Minister of China Yang Jiechi. Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari arrived, leading a delegation which included minister of state Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, member of parliament Ghulam Nabi Azad, senior journalist M.J. Akbar, and a number of senior officials. Saudi officials also greeted Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif after he arrived at a military airport in the capital. Gulf rulers, and leaders including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, were among those who attended King Abdullah's traditionally simple funeral at Riyadh's Imam Turki Bin Abdullah mosque on Friday. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak arrived later to offer condolences, as did Iraqi President Fuad Masum. President Barack Obama paid tribute to Abdullah as a “valued” ally as the State Department indicated cooperation between Washington and Riyadh would continue. US Vice President Joe Biden said on Twitter he would lead a delegation to Saudi Arabia “to pay respect and offer condolences.” Many Arab and Gulf countries announced days of mourning. India too announced a day of mourning and asked its missions abroad to fly the national flag at half mast. Indian embassy and consulate also postponed the Republic Day reception which was scheduled for Monday evening. A funeral prayer in absentia for the late King Abdullah was performed in Islamabad.
