Saudi King Fahd, a Key U.S. Ally, Dies

"RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Saudi Arabia's King Fahd, who moved his country closer to the United States but ruled the world's largest oil-producing nation in name only since suffering a stroke in 1995, died early Monday, the Saudi royal court said. He was said to be 84.

Crown Prince Abdullah, the king's 81-year-old half brother and the country's de factor ruler, was appointed the new monarch.

"With all sorrow and sadness, the royal court in the name of his highness Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and all members of the family announces the death of the custodian of the two holy mosques, King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz," according to a statement read on state-run Saudi TV by the country's information minister.

Fahd died at approximately 2:30 a.m. EDT, a senior Saudi official in Washington told The Associated Press."
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