Bush calls King Abdullah on Fahd passing

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George W. Bush offered his condolences to Saudi King Abdullah and congratulated him on assuming the throne after the passing of King Fahd following a long illness.

"On behalf of the United States, I congratulate my friend, King Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, on assuming the Saudi throne and the position of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques," Bush said in a statement.

"We wish Saudi Arabia peace and prosperity under his leadership. I have spoken today to the new King, and the United States looks forward to continuing the close partnership between our two countries," said the president.

In a separate statement, Bush said that he was "deeply saddened" by the death of the king, whom he called "a man of wisdom" and "a friend and strong ally of the United States for decades."

"As king, ...