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Saudi King leaves country on holiday, crown prince to manage affairs in his absence

Saudi Arabia's King Salman attends a session of Saudi Shura Council in Riyadh, December 23, 2015. REUTERS/Bandar al-Jaloud/Saudi Royal Court/Handout

DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman left the country on holiday on Thursday and appointed the crown prince to manage the kingdom's affairs in his absence, state news agency SPA reported. The statement did not say where King Salman, 80, was traveling or how long he would be absent for. In April 2015 Salman appointed his 56-year-old nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef, as crown prince and made his young son, Mohammed bin Salman, second in line to rule, a major shift in power toward two princes who have overseen a more assertive stance at a time of regional turmoil. (This story corrects to say king will travel abroad, not to Britain) (Reporting by Tom Finn; Editing by Gareth Jones)