Saudi Arabia's King Salman admitted to hospital for checks

Saudi Arabia's King Salman admitted to hospital for checks

The king has ruled since 2015 and is the custodian of Islam's holiest sites. His son Mohammed bin Salman as next inline

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz has been admitted to hospital, suffering from inflammation of the gall bladder, according to state media.

The 84-year-old ruler, who has ruled the country since 2015, was undergoing medical checks in the capital, state news agency SPA said on Monday. No other details were given.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi postponed his scheduled visit to Riyadh following the king's hospitalisation, the Saudi foreign minister said.

"In recognition of the importance of the visit and a desire to make it succeed, our wise leadership in coordination with our brothers in Iraq has decided to postpone the visit," Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud wrote on Twitter.

An Iraqi delegation, led by Finance Minister Ali Allawi, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

King Salman, the custodian of Islam's holiest sites, spent more than two and a half years as the Saudi crown prince and deputy prime minister from June 2012 before becoming king. He also served as governor of the Riyadh region for more than 50 years.

The de facto ruler and next in line to the throne is his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). 

The crown prince has won praise at home for easing social restrictions in the conservative Muslim kingdom, giving more rights to women and pledging to diversify the economy.