CLEVELAND, March 13 (Reuters) - Saudi Crown Prince Nayef, who supervises the daily affairs of the kingdom, was leaving the Cleveland Clinic hospital in Ohio on Tuesday after routine tests, a clinic spokeswoman said.
"He is leaving Cleveland Clinic today," said Eileen Sheil, a spokeswoman for the clinic who had confirmed his arrival last week for what she described as routine tests.
Prince Nayef, about 78 years old, has been the kingdom's interior minister for decades and is part of an aging leadership in the world's top oil exporter.
King Abdullah appointed Prince Nayef to be crown prince of the major U.S. ally in October, after ex-Crown Prince Sultan died of colon cancer in New York.
Saudi state television said last week Nayef arrived in the United States from Morocco, where state media said on Thursday he had traveled for a private vacation.
Sheil declined to discuss details of the prince's departure or travel plans.
The Cleveland Clinic is a top-ranked U.S. hospital that employs nearly 3,000 doctors and researchers. (Reporting by Kim Palmer in Cleveland; Writing by David Bailey; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Cynthia Osterman)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
