His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain, passed away this morning at Mayo Clinic Hospital in the US, a Bahrain New Agency report said.

 

By order of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Royal Court mourns the passing away of HRH the Premier, it said. 

 

The burial ceremony will take place after the repatriation of the body, and the funeral will be limited to a specific number of relatives.

 

HM the King ordered the announcement of an official mourning for a week during which flags will be flown at half-mast.

 

Government ministries and departments will be closed for three days starting Thursday.

 

HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has served as the Prime Minister of Bahrain since 1970, taking office over a year before Bahrain's independence on  August 15, 1971. He was the longest-serving current Prime Minister of any government in the world.