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Saudi mourns after Crown Prince Sultan dies in New York
The 80-year-old prince died in Manhattan hospital, where he had been treated for colon cancer
Sultan, whose age was officially said to be 80 by state records, died in New York of colon cancer early on Saturday Saudi time. The heir to the throne of the world’s top oil exporter had been a central figure in Saudi decision-making. Here he is pictured speaking to FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter (R) during a meeting in Riyadh on March 21, 2010. (AFP/Getty Images)
As well as heir to the throne, Sultan bin Abdul Aziz was the Kingdom’s defence minister and minister of aviation for about four decades. He was appointed defence minister in 1962 and was made crown prince in 2005. Here he speaks during a visit to the southern Jizan province near the border with Yemen on March 16, 2010. .(AFP/Getty Images)
Saudi Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz held a press conference in Riyadh, shortly after hearing about the Crown Prince’s death. (AFP/Getty Images)
Sultan bin Abdul Aziz meets with Spain’s Prince Felipe (L) and Princess Letizia, prior to their meeting at the Zarzuela palace in Madrid on June 6, 2008. A statement carried on state news agency SPA and state television said: “With deep sorrow and sadness the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz mourns the death of his brother and his Crown Prince Sultan… who died at dawn this morning Saturday outside the kingdom following an illness.” (AFP/Getty Images)
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (R) greets Saudi Crown Prince and Defence Minister Sultan bin Abdul Aziz upon his arrival at the Moncloa palace in Madrid on June 5, 2008. Saudi television broke its schedules early on Saturday to broadcast Koranic verses accompanied by footage of the Kaaba in Mecca, Islam’s holiest site. (AFP/Getty Images)
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L) meets with Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz in Riyadh on March 10, 2010, for talks expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear programme and Washington’s push for tough sanctions against Tehran. Sultan’s health had declined in recent years and he spent long periods outside the kingdom for medical treatment. A 2009 US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks described him as “for all intents and purposes incapacitated”.(AFP/Getty Images)
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud (L) and Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud. King Abdullah is in his late 80s and underwent back surgery earlier this month but has been pictured since then in apparently good health.nThe king was also absent for three months late in 2010 while he underwent treatment for a herniated disc that caused blood to accumulate around his spine. Funeral services for the Crown Prince will be held in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday, SPA said. (AFP/Getty Images)
The Crown Prince’s brother, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, named second-deputy prime minister in 2009, has been thrown into line to succeed King Abdullah as leader of the key oil producer. Prince Nayef, who is in his late 70s, has a reputation as being more conservative than either the crown prince or king. (AFP/Getty Images)
