Muslim cleric dies of cancer at age 85

A Muslim cleric who lived for decades in the Saudi capital has died of cancer.

Mohammed Al-Omar, 73, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September and died Sunday at the Saudi-owned Riyadh Royal Hospital.

Al-Majid Al-Muhammad, a leader of the influential Al-Umma party, was in charge of Saudi Arabia’s National Assembly for more than 30 years.

Al-‘Umma is known for its close ties to the royal family.

Al Omar, a Saudi national, led a hardline group known as Al-Jihad al-Islamiya that is considered one of the more hardline branches of Saudi society.

His organization has also been accused of links to the Muslim Brotherhood.