Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has pneumonia and temporarily needed help to breath through a tube today, according to the country's royal court.
The long-ailing king, 91, was hospitalised on Wednesday for checks.
"After the necessary medical tests by the medical team, it became apparent that there was a lung infection that required the insertion of a tube to aid with breathing on a temporary basis this evening," the royal court said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
The statement said that the procedure had resulted in "stability and success".
The king, whose age and frequent hospitalisation have raised concerns about the future leadership of the key oil producer, was admitted to the King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, a court statement carried by the official SPA news agency said.
Abdullah's half brother Salman, 77, is next in line to the throne.
He was named crown prince in June 2012 following the death of Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz.
Salman has been representing the king at most public events, including the latest Gulf summit in Qatar this month, due to the monarch's ailing health.
The king's absence from the public gaze for some time last year prompted rumours on social media networks that his health was deteriorating.
He underwent two operations in October 2011 and November 2012 to correct "ligament slackening" in the upper back.
