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King Fahd of Saudi Arabia is dead

Saudi Arabia`s ruler, King Fahd, died early Monday in a Riyadh hospital and his brother, Crown Prince Abdullah, has been announced the country`s new monarch, the Saudi royal court announced in a statement.

"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 out on state-run Saudi TV by the country`s information minister.

Saudi TV, which said the king was 84 years of age, broke with regular broadcasting to announce Fahd`s death. Quranic verse recitals followed the announcement by the minister, Iyad bin Amin Madani, whose voice wavered with emotion as he read the statement.

"He died after suffering an illness," Madani said in the statement. "God allows the custodian of the two holy mosques, King Fahd, with great mercy and forgiveness to reside in his wide heaven."