King Salman, 88, has been on the throne since 2015. (Archive)
Riyadh:
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman is suffering from a “high temperature” and joint pain and will undergo a second round of medical tests in less than a month, state media reported on Sunday.
The tests will be carried out at a clinic in the Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, the Royal Court said in a statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
King Salman “suffers from a high fever and joint pain,” the statement said. “The medical team responsible for the treatment decided to carry out some tests to diagnose his health and ensure his health.”
King Salman, 88, has been on the throne since 2015, although his son, Mohammed bin Salman, 38, was named crown prince in 2017 and serves as day-to-day ruler.
The monarch’s health is rarely discussed, but the Royal Court revealed in April that he had been admitted to King Faisal Specialist Hospital for “routine checks”. He left the hospital later that day.
Before that, his most recent hospitalization was in May 2022, when he went for a colonoscopy and stayed just over a week for other tests and “some time to rest”, the SPA reported at the time.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest exporter of crude oil, has for years sought to quell speculation about King Salman’s health.
In 2017, Riyadh rejected growing reports and speculation that the king planned to abdicate in favor of Prince Mohammed.
King Salman underwent surgery to remove his gallbladder in 2020.
He was also admitted to hospital in March 2022 to undergo what state media described as “successful medical examinations” and to have the battery in his pacemaker changed.
King Salman served as governor of Riyadh for decades and also as defense minister.
His reign as king has been marked by ambitious social and economic reforms, largely managed by his son, who is trying to position Saudi Arabia for an eventual post-oil future.
Prince Mohammed also oversaw an intense crackdown on dissent that analysts say helped him consolidate power.
This story originally appeared on Ndtv.com read the full story
