CAIRO, Jan 23 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's ministry of foreign affairs lowered the flag to half-mast following the death of Saudi King Abdullah earlier on Friday.

The late king died at the age of 90, after being hospitalised for weeks.

The Egyptian presidency also declared seven days of mourning over the death of the king, Egypt's state television announced on Friday.

The Saudi monarch's brother Crown Prince Salman will be crowned king, Saudi state television reported.

According to Reuters news agency, the late king will be buried on Friday in an unmarked grave.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's visit to Saudi Arabia to pariticpate in the funeral procession of late King Abdullah was delayed due to the weather conditions.

Sisi assigned Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb to fly to the Gulf Kingdom to pay respects to the late king, the state television added. Mehleb will be accompanied by the ministers of defence, electricity, petroleum, and health.

King Abdullah urged Egypt and Qatar to "consolidate relations between them" last December. Both countries embraced the calls, in a move which eased tension between Egypt and Qatar after over a year of strained relations since the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July 2013.