Saudi King leaves country on holiday, crown prince to manage affairs in his absence

Reuters
Saudi King Salman delivers a brief statement as Saudi Arabia's cabinet agrees to implement a broad reform plan known as Vision 2030 in Riyadh, April 25, 2016. REUTERS/Saudi Press Agency/Handout via Reuters

DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman left the country on holiday on Thursday and appointed the crown prince to manage the kingdom's affairs in his absence, state news agency SPA reported. The statement did not say where King Salman, 80, was travelling or how long he would be absent for. In April 2015 Salman appointed his 56-year-old nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef, as crown prince and made his young son, Mohammed bin Salman, second in line to rule, a major shift in power towards two princes who have overseen a more assertive stance at a time of regional turmoil. (Reporting by Tom Finn; Editing by Gareth Jones)