Prominent Saudi official and poet Ghazi Algosaibi dies at age of 70

Saudi statesman and poet Ghazi Algosaibi dies

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi media has reported that Ghazi Algosaibi, a consummate stateman and liberal writer, died at the age of 70 after a long illness.

Algosaibi passed away in a Riyadh hospital on Sunday. No official cause of death has been announced.

For a decade he served as the kingdom’s ambassador to Britain until 2002 and was often its public face at international forums.

Since 1975, Algosaibi has variously held the positions of minister of health, electricity, water, industry, and lastly labor.

The scion of a wealthy trading family, Algosaibi was close to the kingdom’s ruling family. But his writings, critical of Arab governments, were banned in the kingdom.

Only last month, Saudi Culture Ministry lifted the ban on his writings citing his contributions to the nation.