Bahrain PM Khalifa Bin Salman passes away at 84

Bahrain PM Khalifa Bin Salman passes away at 84

The body will be flown back to Bahrain where the last rites will be held.

Bahrain Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al Khalifa died on Wednesday. The 84-year-old Bahrain PM passed away at Mayo Clinic Hospital in the United States of America. The Bahrain PM was the world's longest-serving head of a government, having taken the role in 1970.

"The Royal Court mourns His Royal Highness... who passed away this morning at Mayo Clinic Hospital in the United States of America," the Bahrain News Agency confirmed said.

Bahrain would enter a week of official mourning during which flags will be flown at half-mast.

Bahrain King has ordered that the government ministries and departments will remain closed for three days starting November 12.

The body will be flown back to Bahrain where the last rites will be held.

Bahrain PM Khalifa Bin Salman passes away at 84
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Born on November 24, 1935, Khalifa began to attend his father's royal court at the age of seven along with his elder brother, Prince Issa.

He was named in 1970 as the head of the state council, the executive branch of government which became the council of ministers after independence from Britain.

He conducted difficult negotiations with the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, before independence over Shiite Iran's claims to the islands.

A referendum to determine Bahrain's future resulted in an overwhelming vote in favour of independence under the rule of the Sunni Al-Khalifa dynasty, despite the sizeable Shiite population -- whose size is disputed by the government to this day.

After independence, Sheikh Khalifa's government faced strong protests by leftist political groups, which demanded the legalisation of trade unions, resulting in large-scale arrests.

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