Feisal’s funeral HEADS OF STATE AMONG MOURNERS

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33803, 27 March 1975, Page 19

Feisal ’s funeral HEADS OF STATE AMONG MOURNERS

(N. Z.P.A. -Reuter—Copyright) RIYADH, March 26.

King Feisal of Saudi Arabia, whose assassination stunned the world, will be buried today in the grief-stricken capital of the desert kingdom he helped forge into an oil State of global power.

Heads of State from at least nine countries were on their way to pay their last respects to the King whose death yesterday left a big question mark over Middle East politics and caused shock waves on international money markets. Tens of thousands of mourning Saudis thronged in the sombre capital of Riyadh for today’s funeral of the 68-year-old Monarch, shot down yesterday in his palace by a “deranged” royal nephew. By decision of the Royal family, his brother, Khalid Ibn Abdul Aziz, aged 61, succeeded to the throne, but another brother, the dynamic Prince Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, aged 52, named as Crown Prince, is expected to wield much of the power in Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporting nation. King Khalid has already appointed him First Deputy Premier and according to the Independent Arab Press Service in Beirut, Prince Fahd will later be named Prime Minister — the first time this post will have been held in Saudi Arabia by anyone but the King.

The new King is said to suffer from a weak heart and may not be able to carry out the" full burden of Royal duties performed by King Feisal. The Heads of State coming for the funeral and Government leaders in capitals around the world will be eager to know how the tragedy will affect the future policies of Saudi Arabia, at a time when Middle East peace prospects have receded. For some of them, especially President Anwar Sadat, who counts heavily on Saudi assistance to bolster Egypt’s weary economy, this is a vital question. Other Arab leaders expected are the Presidents of Syria, Tunisia, Sudan, and Lebanon, King Hussein of Jordan and the rulers of Kuwait and Qatar. Also due to attend the funeral were the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and President Idi Amin of Uganda. At least 100,000 Saudis were expected to join the funeral procession in this dusty capital of fastspreading concrete dwellings. Among his six million subjects King Feisal was a national father-figure. News of his death on Riyadh Radio started off high-pitched wailing from grieving women. On his death, the Palestine Liberation Organisation declared its pride in King Feisal’s support for its cause and pledged Arabs and Moslems to “continue the struggle until Palestine is Arab once more.” President Ford mourned him as “a close friend of the United States

. . . whose wisdom and stature earned the respect of the entire world.” Arab leaders declared national mourning and King Hussein of Jordan said he was killed at a time when his sound advice was greatly needed. The former President, Mr Richard Nixon, issued a statement eulogising Feisal as “my friend for 20 years.” “A staunch defender of his people’s interests, King Feisal also brought a strong voice of reason and moderation to the search for peace not only in the Middle East but in the world,” Mr Nixon said. “Wise in the ways of nations, he was a world statesman of the first rank.”

French Government officials in Paris expressed fear that the assassination, coming on the heels of the collapse of Dr Kissinger’s peace mission, could increase Middle East tension. The Vatican expressed “horror” and deplored the slaying. Although the Vatican and Saudi Arabia have no diplomatic relations, they have been on good terms lately. In London, a Foreign Office spokesman praised the fallen Monarch as “a great Arab, Moslem and world leader and friend of this country.”