Ailing Saudi king, 91, admitted to hospital for checks

[Bosonic]

Source: AFP

Saudi Arabia's ailing King Abdullah, 91, was admitted to hospital on Wednesday for "medical checks," the royal court said.

The king, whose age and frequent hospitalisation have raised concerns about the future leadership of the key oil producer, was admitted to the King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, a court statement carried by the official SPA news agency said.

Abdullah's half brother Salman, 77, is next in line to the throne. He was named crown prince in June 2012 following the death of Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz.

Salman has been representing the king at most public events, including the latest Gulf summit in Qatar this month, due to the monarch's ailing health.

Read more: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ailing-saudi-king-91-admitted-hospital-checks-095010813.html#AirUJvb

[Javaman]

1. maybe george w. moron* needs to fly right over there now...

and give him a smack on the lips.

[KansDem]

2. He might fly into their tallest buildings

Wouldn't that be poetic justice!

[samsingh]

3. agreed

[cosmicone]

4. The power struggle between Sultan and Bandar

is going to be spectacular after Abdullah dies.

[MADem]

9. The Crown Prince is the Crown Prince. He's also the guy who presides over the

"Family Dispute" Resolution Council. I don't think there will be any power struggle.

Salman is a talented diplomat in his own right, and he was the Defense Minister--he's not just another (not so) pretty face.

Keep in mind, Salman is pushing eighty. It's not like he's going to be around for twenty or thirty years.

[Demeter]

5. Maybe he and Poppy can share a room

[billhicks76]

6. Bush And Cheney+Abdullah=911InsideJob

C'mon Obama...you promised to release the 28 redacted pages of the 911 report implicating Saudi Arabia. Bush Sr advised against it.

[KansDem]

7. I sometimes wonder if those 28 pages are out there on the Internet somewhere...

Might be something Anonymous could look into?

[MADem]

8. They've got the Crown Prince's age wrong--he will be eighty next December.

If Abdullah shuffles off the mortal coil, things won't change much under Salman. It will be slow, slow reforms, done very incrementally.

[Eugene]

10. Saudi King Abdullah suffering from pneumonia

Source: BBC

2 January 2015 Last updated at 16:43 GMT

Saudi King Abdullah suffering from pneumonia

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah is suffering from a lung infection and has been breathing with the aid of a tube, Saudi officials have said.

The monarch, who is said to be aged about 90, was admitted to hospital on Wednesday for medical checks.

King Abdullah, who came to the throne in 2005, has suffered frequent bouts of ill health in recent years.

His age and condition has led to increasing focus on the issue of the Saudi royal succession.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30659909