Saud al-Faisal, former Saudi foreign minister with 40 years in the post, dies

FILE - In this Monday, Nov. 4, 2013 file photo, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, speaks with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The country's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday, July 9, 2015, that the prince, who was the world's longest serving foreign minister with 40 years in the post until earlier this year, has died. He was 75. (Jason Reed, Pool Photo via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

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FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014 file pool photo, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal pauses as he makes a statement to the media in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A Saudi spokesman said Thursday, July 9, 2015, that al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia's longtime foreign minister until this year, has died. (Brendan Smialowski, Pool Photo via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014 file photo, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal waits to greet U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as Kerry arrives at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A Saudi spokesman said Thursday, July 9, 2015, that al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia's longtime foreign minister until this year, has died. (Brendan Smialowski, Pool Photo via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry spokesman says Prince Saud al-Faisal, who was the world's longest serving foreign minister with 40 years in the post until earlier this year, has died. He was 75.

The spokesman, Osama Nugali, announced Saud's death on his official Twitter feed, saying, "The eye tears, the heart saddens. We all are saddened to be separated from you." He did not elaborate on the cause of death.

The tall, stately Saud was a fixture in Mideast diplomacy since he was appointed to his post in 1975. He retired in April, citing health reasons, just three months after the death of King Abdullah.