SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Bafel Jalal Talabani on Friday offered his condolences to the UAE over the death of the country’s President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“With deep sadness and sorrow, we received the news of the passing of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,” Talabani said in a statement.
“On behalf of myself and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, we extend our condolences to the family and people of the beloved UAE,” he added.
Sheikh Khalifa, who served as the president of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi since November 3, 2004, died at the age of 73.
He is expected to be succeeded as ruler of Abu Dhabi by his half-brother Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
Mohammed bin Zayed has been the de facto ruler of the U.S.-allied UAE, particularly after Khalifa suffered a stroke in 2014, following which he has rarely been seen in public.
