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Former Saudi Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal dies

July 9, 2015

Former Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal has died. He was the world's longest-serving foreign minister, and left the job just two months ago.

https://p.dw.com/p/1Fw2X
Former Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal
Image: Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images

Sources say the 75-year-old passed away at his home in Los Angeles, after suffering from an undisclosed illness.

Prince Saud al-Faisal was appointed to the post of foreign minister in 1975, and served for four decades. He was also an advisor and special envoy to King Salman, who announced in April that he would be replaced by the then-ambassador to Washington, Adel al-Jubeir. In a royal decree, the king said Saud had requested to leave his post "due to health conditions."

At the time, acting US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf praised Saud as "a skilled diplomat, wise counselor on regional issues, and a good friend to the United States."

The Prince's nephew Saud Mohammed al-Abdullah al-Faisal confirmed the news on Twitter, saying "May God accept him in Paradise."

The German embassy in Riyadh also tweeted its condolences.

an/kms (AFP, dpa, Reuters)