Bahrain prime minister travels abroad on 'private visit' - royal media adviser

Bahrain's Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al Khalifa left the kingdom for a private visit abroad, the King of Bahrain's media adviser said on Twitter on Saturday. Khalifa, 84, has served as prime minister since the Sunni Muslim-led island kingdom declared independence from Britain in 1971. Earlier this year he spent time in Germany for unspecified medical treatment, returning to Bahrain in March.

Bahrain's Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al Khalifa left the kingdom for a private visit abroad, the King of Bahrain's media adviser said on Twitter on Saturday. Khalifa, 84, has served as prime minister since the Sunni Muslim-led island kingdom declared independence from Britain in 1971.

Earlier this year he spent time in Germany for unspecified medical treatment, returning to Bahrain in March. Bahrain is the home base of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. (Writing by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Giles Elgood)