Saudi Sacks Health Minister

Saudi King Salman has sacked health minister Ahmed al-Khatib and appointed a caretaker to carry out his duties, the official Saudi Press Agency said in a terse statement Saturday.

SPA did not give a reason for the sacking but said that the king issued a decree to appoint Minister of State Mohammed al-Sheikh as acting health minister.

Saudi news website Sabq said Khatib was replaced over his "shortcomings" in dealing with hospitals in the south of the country, where troops are deployed along the border with conflict-hit Yemen.

Sabq did not source its report.

A Saudi-led coalition has been engaged in an air campaign against Shiite rebels in Yemen, and the kingdom's troops are mobilized in the south of the country.