Riyadh: Joining a swarm of Saudis taking to social media on Friday, veteran news broadcaster Abdullah Al Shihri said he would have preferred not to deliver the official announcement that King Abdullah was dead.
“I did not wish to announce this news,” said Shihri, who wore a dark robe and traditional shemagh head covering to deliver the announcement from the royal court.
“May God have mercy on Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. Sincere prayers for his successor and crown prince,” he wrote.
The ailing King Abdullah died early Friday aged about 90, after almost a decade on the throne.
King Abdullah was “loved by the Saudi people and the entire Muslim population. We did not lose a king today, we all lost a father”, Ameera Al Taweel said in one of thousands of Twitter messages.
Saudi Army News, an official account, expressed condolences and said: “This Twitter account will stop tweeting for three days in mourning of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God rest his soul”.
Many tweeted a Hadith, or saying of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), that death on a Friday means that one’s life ended well.
Some talked of the development Abdullah fostered in the kingdom.
“Spending was generous and golden projects in all regions,” wrote Naif Al Qarni.
