Saudi king Salman hospitalized. Palace coup suspected

King Salman Bin Abdelaziz, 79, was confined to the hospital in Riyadh in intensive care and restrained under heavy sedation. Court sources say he was removed after “going crazy” and attempting to injure himself. King Salman, who acceded to the throne ten months ago, was said then to suffer from dementia and erratic behavior. Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef has stepped in to administer the kingdom. According to some reports, the king was heavily drugged and removed forcibly to hospital as part of a palace coup to remove him from power.