Funeral prayers performed for late Kuwaiti emir Sheikh Sabah

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 30 (MENA) - The funeral prayers of Kuwait’s late emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah were performed Wednesday at Bilal bin Rabah Mosque in Kuwait City, Gulf Today reported.

New Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf was present at the mosque to participate in the funeral prayer.

State television broadcast live as the ruler's body, draped in Kuwait's flag, arrived at the airport.

A host of Kuwaiti officials and close relatives held the body aloft and placed it into an ambulance, which headed along a deserted highway into the city, trailed by dozens of motorcycles and SUVs.

The breadth and depth of emotion over the loss of Sheikh Sabah, known for his deft diplomacy and peacemaking, was reflected in condolence messages that streamed in from countries on opposite ends of regional feuds, from Saudi Arabia to Iran.

Kuwait entered a solemn 40-day period of mourning on Wednesday to commemorate the leader's life and death.

The deceased was accompanied back home with his brother, Deputy Head of the National Guard, Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Sheikh Mubarak Al Jaber Al Sabah and Sheikh Nasser Al Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah.