Ahmad Al-Sabah said " King Fahd ... devoted himself to the service of his religion, homeland, people and his Arab and Muslim nation." Several news agencies also carried these reactions to King Fahd's death. They are as follows: British Prime Minister Tony Blair said " King Fahd was a man of great vision and leadership who inspired his countrymen for a quarter of a century as king. He led Saudi Arabia through a period of unparalleled progress and development. He was also a good friend of the United Kingdom. Under his guidance our two countries have developed extremely close political, commercial and defense links. They will always be seen as his legacy." On his part, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said "We feel sorrow and pain over the death of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz. We have known him for a long time ... he showed support and commitment to the Palestinian cause since the 60s." French President Jacques Chirac said "During his reign King Fahd was, above all, concerned with the safety of his people. In troubled times, he guaranteed the integrity of his country and defended regional stability. He developed the kingdom wisely. "King Fahd was also committed to the strong and trusting relations between France and Saudi Arabia. This old friendship, which began with an exceptional link established by General De Gaulle, took on a new dimension under his reign, helped by a shared vision of what was at stake regionally and internationally." --MORE 1511 Local Time 1211 GMT
