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Obama cancels end of India visit after Saudi king’s death, official says

In this March 28, 2014 file photo, United States President Barack Obama meets with Saudi King Abdullah at Rawdat Khuraim, Saudi Arabia. Obama will cut short his three-day trip to India to travel to Saudi Arabia to pay respects following the death of King Abdullah, U.S. and Indian officials said Saturday. AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File

NEW DELHI – President Barack Obama has cancelled the end of his trip to India to fly to Saudi Arabia next week in the wake of the death of its later ruler, a top Indian official said Saturday.

Obama will fly from India on Tuesday, skipping a planned trip that day to the Taj Mahal, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

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The president arrives in New Delhi on Sunday for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to be the chief guest in India’s Republic Day parade Monday. He had been originally scheduled to leave India and return to Washington after visiting the Taj Mahal.

Saudi King Abdullah died Friday after nearly two decades in power and was succeeded by his half-brother, Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud.

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