Saudi king to go to U.S. for treatment

Saudi king to go to U.S. for treatment
Nov 21, 2010 at 10:21


King underwent tests at King Faisal hospital in Riyadh on Friday after he suffered a new flare-up of pain.

RIYADH - Saudi King Abdullah is to travel to the United States for treatment of a painful herniated disc and "blood accumulation" around the spine, a Saudi official told AFP on Sunday.

The king, 86, will depart Monday following the return of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz to the capital from Morocco, expected Sunday, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

On November 12 the royal court said the king was suffering from a herniated disc, a painful but treatable spinal ailment.

On Friday the king underwent tests at King Faisal hospital in Riyadh after he suffered a new flare-up of pain, and the official report said it involved an "accumulation of blood" around the spinal cord.

Sultan's return comes after he spent nearly 12 weeks at his palace in Agadir, Morocco.

The crown prince, around 85 years old, has not been very active since taking treatment and a lengthy convalescence abroad in 2008-2009 for what is believed by analysts and diplomats to be cancer.

Abdullah, Saudi king since 2005, had slowed his activities since May-June of this year due to his previously unnamed problems.

On Saturday an expected -- but never officially announced -- visit by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak became a phone call between the two leaders instead.

A planned meeting between Abdullah and French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been put off twice this year.