Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has died, Saudi state television announced early on Friday local time.
Abdullah's designated successor is Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, his 79-year-old half-brother.
Abdullah had been in poor health in recent months. Reuters reports that the king had been admitted to a Riyadh hospital in December for medical tests. The royal court announced in January that Abdullah was suffering from pneumonia
US Secretary of State John Kerry llistens as King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud speaks before meeting at the King's private residence June 27, 2014 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is believed to have been born in 1923 and came into power in 2005 after the death of his half-brother, King Fahd.
In this image released by the Saudi Press Agency, Crown Prince Salman gestures during a session at the Shura Council, where he delivered an annual televised speech on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/ Saudi Press Agency)
The new king, Salman, is a former defense minister and governor of Riyadh, is believed to be 79. He is said to be suffering from dementia, and last year King Abdullah appointed his youngest surviving brother, 69-year-old Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, as second in line to the throne.
