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UK flag tributes to Saudi King Abdullah criticised

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud has died after two decades in power. He has been succeeded by his 79-year-old half-brother, Salman.

Downing Street and other Whitehall departments - along with Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace - were among prominent UK landmarks to put Union Flags at half mast.

But the move caused disquiet because of the human rights record of the country during King Abdullah's reign, with recent outrage focused on the public beheading of a woman and a sentence of 1,000 lashes meted out to the creator of an online blog.

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Major: 'King Abdullah will be remembered as a peacemaker'

Sir John Major says King Abdullah will be remembered as a peacemaker. Credit: PA

Former prime minister Sir John Major has said Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah will be remembered as a "peacemaker and reformer".

King Abdullah will be remembered as a peacemaker and reformer, whose moderate views sought both to stabilise the Middle East, and soften the most conservative opinion in Saudi Arabia.

He was a good friend of Britain and a wise man whose voice will be missed far beyond his own country.

– Sir John Major
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UK flag tributes to Saudi King Abdullah criticised

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