http://www.english.hadhramaut.info Ex-minister Abdu Yamani passes away [The Source: JEDDAH/hadhramut.info/arabnews.com - 08/11/2010] Former Information Minister Muhammad Abdu Yamani died here on Monday following a stroke. He was 72. He will be buried at Maalla graveyard in Makkah on Tuesday after Dhuhr prayers in the Grand Mosque. Yamani died at the Saudi-German Hospital. Born in Makkah in 1938, Yamani obtained a doctorate degree in geology from Cornell University in the US. He had worked as lecturer at various Saudi universities before becoming the president of King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah.He served as minister of information from 1975 to 1982. He wrote 35 books covering cultural and religious topics. Some of his works have been published in English.In 2008, he was elected chairman of the Saudi Research and Publishing Company's Board of Trustees.Loved and respected by all, Yamani was a well-known philanthropist. He was vice chairman of Dallah Al-Baraka, one of the Kingdom's leading companies. He was also chairman of 12 national and international companies and establishments, which specialized in culture, publishing, health, education and investment.He was a member of the boards of directors of at least 10 companies including banks.He won several honors including the King Abdul Aziz Sash as well as medals from the governments of Mauritania, Indonesia, Jordan, France, Spain, Qatar and the UAE.Yamani was admitted to hospital after the stroke on Sunday. According to close relatives, his condition had been improving until Monday morning, when he went into a coma.Sharief Mansour Abu Rayyash, a columnist in Al-Nadwah newspaper, said Yamani' death is a big loss for the Islamic world. He was involved in various Islamic and cultural activities. "He was a lover of Makkah and supported various cultural, literary and sports activities in the holy city."Yamani was chairman of Al-Nadwah and honorary chairman of Al-Wahda Club.Abdullah Dahlan, a member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, described Yamani as a "lover of good works," adding that his philanthropic activities through Iqra Foundation and other institutions covered many countries. He had contributed SR18 million for the renovation of Eve's Cemetery in Jeddah."If we didn't find anybody to support a humanitarian project, we approached Mohammed Abdu Yamani," said Saleh Al-Turki, former chairman of JCCI. He said Yamani had supported thousands of Burmese to correct their residency situation in the Kingdom