DUBAI: Bahrain’s Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa died Wednesday at age 84, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.
His body will be repatriated from the United States, where he was at Mayo Clinic Hospital at the time of his death.
The country’s King Hamad announced an official week of mourning for the late prime minister, while ministries and government departments will be closed for three days as of Thursday, the report added.
King Hamad issued a decree appointing Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad to head the Council of Ministers effective immediately, state news agency BNA reported.
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed sent cables of condolences to King Hamad.
Mohammed bin Rashid also tweeted: “Our condolences to our brother, the King of Bahrain, and to our beloved Bahraini people, on the death of Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa... An extended march in the service of his country...And a developmental journey that contributed to shaping the modern history of Bahrain.”
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Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah also sent a cable of condolences to the Bahraini king, saying the kingdom had lost a “son who devoted his life to the service of his country.”
He also recalled Prince Khalifa’s stance with the Kuwaiti people during the Gulf war, “which will remain fresh in their memories,” he added.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi offered his condolences to King Hamad during a phone call, in which he expressed appreciation for the late premier’s efforts to support Egyptian-Bahraini relations.
King Hamad also received similar cables of condolences from other Arab leaders, including Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Lebanese President Michel Aoun, and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, among others.
Prince Khalifa was the longest serving premier in the world, stepping into the post in 1970. He previously served as the country’s head of the State Council and of the Supreme Defense Council.
Prince Khalifa’s brother, Sheikh Isa bin Salman, took power in 1961 and served as monarch when Bahrain gained its independence from Britain in 1971.
He was born on Nov. 24, 1935, and was married and has three surviving children, sons Ali and Salman and daughter Lulwa. Another son, Mohammed, died previously.
