Sheik Saad Al Abdullah Al Sabah, former Kuwait ruler

KUWAIT CITY - Sheik Saad Al Abdullah Al Sabah, who ruled this small oil-rich ally of Washington for just nine days before being removed for ill health, died yesterday. He was 78.

As crown prince, Sheik Saad automatically became Kuwait's ruler when his cousin, Sheik Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah, died Jan. 15, 2006, after 27 years in power. But it quickly became clear Saad's poor health would not allow him to carry out his new responsibilities, and he faced calls to step down.

Saad's health had started deteriorating after he suffered colon bleeding in 1997. When he appeared on television after the death of Sheik Jaber, Saad was in a wheelchair and could barely shake hands with visitors.

In a historic vote on Jan. 23, 2006, Kuwait's parliament removed Saad from power because of his health and chose as emir another member of the royal family, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, the current ruler.

Kuwait's information minister, Sheik Sabah Al Khaled Al Sabah, read a Cabinet statement on state television late yesterday saying that Saad "spent his life in the service of Kuwait" and was "a strong defender of its rights."

Following his removal from office, state media gave Saad the title "the father emir," in a sign of respect and recognition.

Born in 1930, Saad was the eldest son of Sheik Abdullah Al Salem Al Sabah, who ruled from 1950 to 1965 and is known as the founder of modern Kuwait. *