Rare Saudi honour as heir apparent greets PM

Feb 28, 2010

Riyadh, Feb. 27: The government of Saudi Arabia broke with tradition on Saturday when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh landed in Riyadh to a red carpet welcome. To greet him at King Khalid International airport were three of Saudi King Abdullah’s half-brothers,
including Crown Prince and deputy prime minister Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al Saud and the powerful second deputy prime minister Naif bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, and the kingdom’s entire Cabinet.
Dr Singh, who becomes the first Indian Prime Minister in 28 years to visit the Gulf kingdom after the landmark visit by Indira Gandhi that helped build bridges with the Pakistan-leaning Riyadh, had broken protocol and received King Abdullah when the Saudi leader visited India in 2006. “The Gulf region is an area of vital importance for India’s security and prosperity,” Dr Singh said on arrival.

Syed Akbar

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