RIYADH — Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah died early on Friday and his brother Prince Salman became king, the royal court said in a statement carried by state television. King Salman has named his Prince Muqrin as his crown prince and heir. "His Highness Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1 a.m. this morning," said the statement. King Salman has been crown prince and defense minister since 2012. He was governor of Riyadh province for five decades before that. Reprint by permission of Saudi Gazette.