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Obama to visit Riyadh Tuesday to extend condolences on Saudi King's demise

WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (KUNA) -- U.S. President Barack Obama is to visit Saudi Arabia next Tuesday to extend condolences on the death of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the White House announced Saturday.
"President Obama and the First Lady are to travel to Riyadh on Tuesday, January 27th in order to pay respects to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the family of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement.
"The Vice President was originally to have led a delegation to Saudi Arabia on the President's behalf. As the President's and Vice President's travel schedules became clearer, we determined that the window of opportunity when the Vice President would be on the ground in Riyadh coincided with the President's departure from India," he noted.
"Accordingly, we adjusted the schedule in coordination with the Indian Government so that the President would be able to depart India following his speech on Tuesday to stop in Riyadh during the return trip to meet with King Salman and other Saudi officials and offer his condolences on behalf of the American people," said the White House Press Secretary.
He also pointed out that the Vice President will remain in Washington. (end) yt.ma