Flags at Government offices to be lowered to half-marathon for Saudi king

BANGKOK, January 24 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered government and state enterprise offices to lower flags to half-mast for three days, starting next Monday, in mourning for the passing away of Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on Thursday, according to an announcement released by the office of the Secretariat of the Prime Minister. The announcement, dated Friday, said General Prayut, also leader of the National Council for Peace and Order, had ordered state agency offices throughout Thailand to lower flags to half-mast in mourning for the late king of Saudi Arabia. General Prayut early Saturday also traveled to the Saudi embassy in Thailand to sign the condolence book. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was hospitalised in December for pneumonia and had been breathing with aid of a respirator. On January 2, the Royal Court announced that he was on a temporary ventilator for respiratory infection, according to a report issued by a foreign news agency. (TNA)