Saudi Arabia: King Salman to meet Obama in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz will meet U.S. President Barack Obama in the capital Riyadh on Tuesday, the kingdom has announced.

The White House had said Friday that Obama would cut short a visit to India to travel to Saudi Arabia, instead of Vice President Joe Biden, who had been scheduled to travel to the kingdom.

The U.S. President later phoned the new Saudi king to offer his condolences on the death of King Abdullah.

King Abdullah died on Friday after a short illness and has been succeeded by King Salman.

World leaders flocked to the Saudi capital Riyadh over the weekend to pay tribute to the late king.

Shortly after King Abdullah’s death, the White House issued a statement hailing him as a “candid” leader who “had the courage of his convictions.”

“As our countries worked together to confront many challenges, I always valued King Abdullah's perspective and appreciated our genuine and warm friendship,” said Obama.

“The closeness and strength of the partnership between our two countries is part of King Abdullah’s legacy.”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in King Abdullah’s death, the United States lost “a man of wisdom and vision.”