Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will travel to the United States for medical treatment, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said Sunday. “The king will leave on Monday for the United States to complete medical tests,” the agency said.
Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah came on Saudi television to assure the nation about the health of King Abdullah.
“I can confirm that his situation is stable and that he is healthy and will return to lead this proud nation. The king has a slipped disc and blood clot that led to pressure on adjoining nerves in the lower part of the back causing some pain. The medical team has recommended that the king visit a center that specializes in spinal cords for a checkup and continue treatment,” the minister said.
Before leaving for the US, King Abdullah issued orders extending the terms of the Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel Al-Jubair, Deputy Chairman of Royal Protocol Abdul Rahman Al-Shalhoub and Secretary-General of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives Fahd Al-Sammari. The extensions are for four years, SPA reported.
The king appeared on television during Eid Al-Adha receiving senior officials and telling his guests that he regretted not being able to stand up to shake their hands. “I don’t know what this illness is. Some people call it a slipped disc and some others sciatica,” he told the guests. “However, if Allah wills everything will be fine.”
The king received a telephone call from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday. They discussed ways to strengthen mutual relations between the two countries besides the king’s health. Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani also called the king inquiring about his health.
Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Prince Naif was handed the responsibility of overseeing Haj as the king has been resting since Nov. 12.
Crown Prince Sultan, who is also defense minister, arrived late Sunday night in the Kingdom from Morocco where he has been on “private vacation.”
The crown prince signed two contracts worth SR27.1 billion to refurbish King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah with a new terminal and infrastructure in simple ceremonies at his residence in Agadir, Morocco.
The contracts, which are for the first phase of the project, were signed with the Saudi Binladin Group. The project, to be completed over 36 months, will expand KAIA’s capacity to 30 million passengers per year from the current traffic of 17 million, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said in a statement.
On Wednesday, the king’s son, Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, was appointed minister of state and commander of the National Guard, which also places him on the Council of Ministers.
The SPA also reported that Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman will be back in his office in Riyadh Tuesday when he will receive visitors in the palace after Isha prayers.
Arab News