MOBILE DEVICES
Free Headline Alerts     
Worldwide Web WorldTribune.com

  breaking... 


Monday, December 6, 2010     GET REAL

Condition of Saudi King, 86, uncertain after operations in N.Y. hospital

ABU DHABI — Despite two operations, the fate of Saudi Arabia's ailing king remains uncertain.

ShareThis

Officials acknowledged that Saudi King Abdullah might not return to his country for months. They said Abdullah has undergone two operations on his back and would receive additional treatment in the United States.

"I have no idea [when the king will return]," former Saudi intelligence director Prince Turki Al Faisal said. "You will have to wait for what comes out [from the royal court]."


Also In This Edition


On Dec. 3, the 86-year-old Abdullah underwent a second operation at New York's Presbyterian Hospital. Turki said the back surgery was successful but could not offer any prognosis, Middle East Newsline reported.

"He had an operation today and I hope he soon gets better," Turki said along the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.

Western diplomats said Abdullah was believed to be seriously ill. They said physicians have discovered a blood clot that could harm the king's vital organs.

The Saudi royal court said the blood clot was removed in Abdullah's first operation on Nov. 24. The court said the second operation was meant to repair several vertebrae in his spine and would be followed by an unspecified period of physical therapy.

"The operation, which took place at exactly six in the morning New York time, was successful, and a second phase of physiotherapy will begin after that," the royal court said.

Most of Abdullah's duties were believed to have been assigned to Deputy Prime Minister Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz, responsible for internal security. Crown Prince Abdullah, also defense minister, was said to have dementia and has been limited to what diplomats termed ceremonial meetings.



About Us     l    Privacy     l    Geostrategy-Direct.com     l    East-Asia-Intel.com
Copyright © 2010    East West Services, Inc.    All rights reserved.