Obama wraps up three-day India visit, departs for Saudi Arabia
PM Narendra Modi was not at the Delhi Palam airport. Earlier reports indicated that he may be present. At the airport was power minister Piyush Goyal, who was minister-in-waiting for the Obama visit, and foreign secretary Sujatha Singh.Obama along with his wife Michelle left India at 1.55pm in his Air Force One plane from Delhi Palam airport.
The US President had been due to visit the Taj Mahal while in India, but cut short his visit to pay his respects to the new Saudi king.
US President Barack Obama also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a "memorable visit" and the people of India for their warm welcome here.
"Thank you @NarendraModi for a memorable visit, and to the Indian people for their warm welcome. #India -bo," said a tweet by the White House.
US President Obama shakes hands with the crowd after delivering a speech at Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi. (Reuters Photo)
President Barack Obama is leading a bipartisan delegation of lawmakers, senior US officials and two former secretaries of state to Saudi Arabia to pay respects to the royal family following King Abdullah's death.
Obama's four-hour stop in Saudi Arabia was to include a meeting with new monarch King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud and a dinner with other Saudi officials.