Mohammed returns from Saudi

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, returned on Tuesday evening to the country after a visit to Saudi Arabia during which he offered his condolence to the members of Saudi royal family on the death of Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

Sheikh Mohammed and his accompanying delegation attended the funeral prayer and burial of Prince Sultan.

Sheikh Mohammed offered his condolences on Tuesday on the death of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, to Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and a number of the Saudi ruling family princes.

The deceased was laid to the rest on Tuesday afternoon in Riyadh.

Sheikh Mohammed paid his respects to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, sons and brothers of the late Prince Sultan, and Saudi people.

General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai also offered their condolences to Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and a number of princes.

The Vice President was accompanied by the UAE high profile delegation, which also included, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Crown Prince of Umm al-Qaiwain, Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Advisor to UAE President and a number of senior officials.

Hundreds attend funeral

Hundreds of men in flowing white robes and red-checkered head dresses packed a mosque in the Saudi capital on Tuesday for the state funeral of crown prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud.

Prince Sultan died in New York on Saturday at the age of 80 after an unspecified illness. He had served as defense minister since 1962 and is credited with modernizing the Saudi armed forces.

TV footage of the funeral showed Saudi King Abdullah sitting in an armchair at the front of a large crowd and wearing a surgical mask. The 87-year old monarch is recovering from his third operation to treat back problems in less than a year.

Prince Sultan, the king's half-brother, was buried later on Tuesday in Riyadh's Al Oud cemetery, resting place of many other members of the royal family.

The crown prince's death will lead to the naming of a new heir, either by Abdullah himself or by a 33-member council composed of his brothers and cousins.

The most likely choice is Interior Minister Prince Nayef, Sultan's brother.

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