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Saudi King in 'Private Visit' to Morocco
[An Nahar] Soddy Arabia...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... 's King Abdullah traveled to Morocco on Friday for an "official visit", state news agency SPA reported, refuting rumors that the octogenarian monarch's health was deteriorating. Guess he's not dead yet. It won't be long now. The king, who was born in 1924, has spent time in Morocco recovering after operations in recent years. But SPA published pictures showing princes and officials greeting the king at Jeddah airport before his departure for Morocco, where the royal family has properties in Casablanca and the southwestern port of Agadir. The report challenged rumors in the media that the ageing monarch's health had deteriorated seriously. King Abdullah is still having difficulty walking after two operations in October 2011 and November 2012 to correct a "ligamentary slackening" in the upper back. Doctors discharged him from hospital in December last year. The king's age and his hospitalizations regularly give rise to rumors about the future leadership of the conservative Moslem kingdom, the world top oil exporter and a key player in the Middle East. His half-brother Prince Salman, born in 1935, was named crown prince in June last year after the death of Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz. Posted by: Fred 2013-06-01 |
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