World leaders on Friday paid tribute to late Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, with President Barack Obama hailing him as a bold leader and French President Fran\u00e7ois Hollande describing him as \u201ca statesman whose work has profoundly marked the history of his country.\u201d
\nU.S. President Barack Obama hailed King Abdullah as a \u201ccandid\u201d leader who \u201chad the courage of his convictions.\u201d
\n\u201cAs our countries worked together to confront many challenges, I always valued King Abdullah’s perspective and appreciated our genuine and warm friendship,\u201d said Obama.
\n\u201cThe closeness and strength of the partnership between our two countries is part of King Abdullah\u2019s legacy.\u201d
\nU.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in King Abdullah\u2019s death, the United States lost \u201ca man of wisdom and vision.\u201d
\nU.S. Vice President Joe Biden is expected to lead a U.S. delegation to Saudi Arabia on Friday to offer condolences in the death of King Abdullah, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.
\nIn France a statement by the Elysee palace paid tribute to King Abdullah, hailing \u201cthe memory of a statesman whose work has profoundly marked the history of his country.\u201d
\nIt said King Abdullah\u2019s \u201cvision of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East remains more relevant than ever.\u201d
\n\u201cThe head of state expresses his sincere condolences to the Saudi people and expresses his commitment to the friendship between France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,\u201d the Elysee statement added.
\nUK Prime Minister David Cameron hailed the late king as a man who strengthened inter-religious dialogue in the world.
\nCanada\u2019s Prime Minister Stephen Harper hailed the late King as a fierce defender of peace.
\nIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the late king saying a \u201cguiding force\u201d was lost with his departure.
\nMoroccan King Mohammad VI hailed the King Abdullah as a man who a dedicated his life to service of the Arab world.
\nBoth Egyptian President Abdelfattah al-Sisi and Jordan\u2019s King Abdullah cut their visits to the World Economic Forum in Davos to attend the funeral of the late Saudi King.
\nAn Egyptian presidency statement said: \u201cThe Egyptian people will not forget the historic stances of King Abdullah.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, leading center for Sunni Islam Al-Azhar paid tribute to the late king, expressing gratitude for his decision to dedicate an \u201copen budget\u201d for the restoration of the centuries-old institution.
\nThe endowment ministry on its part called for absentee funeral prayer in all of the country\u2019s mosques on Friday.
\nJordan\u2019s information minister said the Hashemite Kingdom has declared 40 days of mourning and Palestinian President Abbas announced three days of mourning.<\/p>\n