Saudi Royal Court Says FM Still Recovering from Surgery

Veteran Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal is still recovering in hospital from an operation earlier this month but should be discharged soon, the royal court said late Friday.

"The respirator used after the fully successful surgery was removed on Friday," the court said in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency.

"His highness will leave hospital within the coming few days," the statement added.

The royal court announced on August 11 that the 72-year-old prince had undergone surgery to remove an obstruction in his intestines.

The Saudi press reported on August 19 that King Abdullah had visited the prince at the Specialist Hospital in Jeddah.