Susilo sends condolences to Saudi people

Susilo sends condolences to Saudi people

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono conveyed his
condolences to the Saudi people on Monday for the death of King
Fahd, a presidential spokesman said.

"The President conveys his condolences for the passing of King
Fahd. He will send senior Cabinet ministers led by Coordinating
Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab to attend Fahd's
funeral in Riyadh," presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng told
The Jakarta Post on Monday.

King Fahd, who was The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, died
on Monday at around 6 a.m. local time (10 a.m. in Jakarta) in a
hospital in Riyadh.

Fahd, believed to be 84, had been in hospital since May 27,
when he was admitted with acute pneumonia.

Crown Prince Abdullah was swiftly pronounced monarch of the
world's largest oil exporter and key U.S. ally on Monday in an
apparently smooth succession.

Meanwhile, the Royal Saudi Embassy in Jakarta said that King
Fahd's funeral would take place on Tuesday to give time for
foreign dignitaries to arrive.

"The funeral will take place tomorrow (Tuesday) in Riyadh
after the prayers at around 3:30 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. in
Jakarta)," Saudi Embassy Charge d'Affaires Abdullah M. Al Ghamdi
told the Post on Monday.

Al Ghamdi said a condolences book would be open on Wednesday
at the Saudi Embassy.