Kuwaiti Emir hospitalised for medical checks

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Saba has been hospitalized. The country's national news agency said he was in 'good health' but gave no further details. His half-brother and Crown Prince, 83-year-old Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, will 'temporarily' take on a number of functions.

Kuwait City:Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Saba has been hospitalized for 'routine' medical tests, the country's national news agency said.

The agency added that following the 91-year-old's hospitalization on Saturday, he was in 'good health' but gave no further details, the BBC reported.

His half-brother and Crown Prince, 83-year-old Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, will 'temporarily' take on a number of functions.

Last summer, the Emir was reported to have suffered a health 'setback' while in Kuwait.

The following month, he was hospitalised for medical tests during a visit to the US.

Sheikh Sabah has been credited with shaping the Gulf nation's foreign policy and spent decades as a foreign minister before becoming emir in 2006.

(With inputs from IANS)