World leaders express grief as Crown Prince Naif laid to rest

Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — Crown Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, was laid to rest in Al-Adl cemetery here Sunday evening.

King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, who arrived in Makkah Saturday night, was joined in the funeral prayers at the Grand Mosque by Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Defense Minister; Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region; Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait; King Abdullah of Jordan; Najib Miqati, Prime Minister of Lebanon; Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan; King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, Chairman of the Supreme Military Council of Egypt; Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestinian Authority; Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan; Dr. Nabil Al-Arabi of the Arab League; other dignitaries from around the world, princes, senior officials and thousands of citizens. Hundreds of thousands of Umrah performers from all over the world also attended the funeral prayers.

The funeral prayers were led by Sheikh Saud Al-Shuraim, Imam and Khateeb of the Grand Mosque.

After the funeral prayers, several dignitaries offered their condolences to King Abdullah at the Grand Mosque.

Crown Prince Naif died Saturday in Geneva, Switzerland. His body was flown to Jeddah Sunday.

Funeral prayers in absentia were also performed in the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and in mosques across the Kingdom on the directive of the King.

Prince Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Interior, has asked Emirs of regions and governorates to receive condolences at their headquarters from citizens on Monday.

Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal, General President of Youth Welfare and Chairman of Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, has ordered suspension of all local sports activities for three days, effective from Sunday.

The King received cables of condolences from heads of states, leaders and political figures from around the world. “Crown Prince Naif devoted his life to promoting the security of Saudi Arabia,” said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, while US President Barack Obama praised the late leader’s cooperation in the fight against terror that “saved countless American and Saudi lives.”

“Under his leadership, the United States and Saudi Arabia developed a strong and effective partnership in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

French President Francois Hollande said his country had lost a “friend” and the president of the Swiss Confederation offered Bern’s “deepest condolences.”

Expressing profound sorrow and grief, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that Crown Prince Naif will always be remembered and admired for his outstanding contribution in the development of the Kingdom.

Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan, said the death of Crown Prince Naif was a great loss not only to Saudi Arabia but also to the Muslim World and especially to Pakistan as he was a strong friend of Pakistan.

“Crown Prince Naif played an important and pivotal role in promoting Saudi-Pakistani relations and always stood with Pakistan at all difficult times,” he said.

US Vice President Joe Biden said the late Crown Prince Naif laid a strong foundation for the security of the Kingdom and its partnership with the United States in combating terrorism.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described Crown Prince Naif as devoted to the “fight against extremism” and was “a key and valued partner for the United States.”

Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of State for Cabinet’s Affairs, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, said Kuwait has lost a dear brother and sincere supporter.