In a key address, the Sheikh of Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayyeb lauded the role of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his strenuous efforts in support of Egypt and the Arab and Islamic nations. He expressed pleasure that Al-Azhar's prominent Ulema and teachers have unanimously approved honoring an extraordinary leader of the Arab and Islamic nations who is vigilant of the threats facing them and working day and night to ward off the plots being sewed to suffocate these nations. Dr. Al-Tayyb also paid tribute to the successful crackdown, instructed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to root out terrorism from his country and the region and the world at large. He then, gave an account on the great deeds of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, citing the expansions of the grand mosque's premises, the establishment of King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue, the launch of the initiative of the dialogue among followers of religions, the inauguration of anti-terror center in addition to the humanitarian assistance to Arab peoples, in Gaza, Syria and Iraq as well as his generous donations to combat starvation in the world. In conclusion, Al-Yayyeb said Al-Azhar based its decision to grant the honorary PhD to the monarch on those remarkable deeds. --More 19:43 LOCAL TIME 16:43 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w