Miqati, Lebanese Delegation Attend Saudi Crown Prince Funeral in Riyadh

Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Tuesday attended the funeral of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz in Riyadh.

Miqati headed a high-ranking delegation that comprised Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi, Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, State Minister Ahmed Karami, Information Minister Walid al-Daouq, Public Works Minister Ghazi al-Aridi and other officials.

Lebanon’s ambassador to the kingdom Marwan al-Zein also joined the delegation.

Miqati and the accompanying delegation returned to Beirut after taking part in the funeral, the premier's office said.

President Michel Suleiman is expected to travel on Wednesday to Riyadh at the head of another official delegation.

Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Miqati, ex-Premier Saad Hariri, al-Mustaqbal bloc leader Fouad Saniora, Phalange party chief Amin Gemayel and several Lebanese political and spiritual personalities have issued statements to extend their condolences.

The body of Prince Sultan, who died Saturday in a New York hospital, was repatriated to Riyadh late Monday for a subdued funeral, in line with strict Islamic traditions.

The crown prince, aged 80 according to government records, served as the oil kingpin's defense minister for nearly five decades but had been in the United States since mid-June for medical treatment.