Saudi king heads to US for medical tests

Saudi Arabia's 86-year-old King Abdullah handed over duties to his crown prince on Monday and left to the US for treatment over a blood clot and slipped disc, the palace said.

Saudi authorities have been unusually open in going public with the king's condition, apparently in an effort to prevent any speculation and reassure allies of the key Mideast nation and oil power. Personal issues within the royal family are often kept under strict wraps. (AP)