Saudi oil minister, the face of 1973 embargo, dies

DUBAI: Former Saudi Arabian oil minister Sheikh Zaki Yamani, the face of the 1973 oil embargo that brought the West to its knees, has died in London, aged 90, according to reports. Known for his elegant manner and trademark goatee, Yamani’s 24-year tenure running the oil affairs of the world’s biggest producer made him a global celebrity during the inflationary “oil shocks” of the 1970s. Yamani will be buried in the Saudi city of Mecca, reports said.