Prince Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, the world's longest-serving prime minister of Bahrain who had held the post since independence in 1971, died, state media announced. The 84-year-old breathed his last on Wednesday.

The official Bahrain News Agency said that Prince Khalifa passed away at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in the United States. It also said, the burial ceremony will take place after his remains are transported home, and in line with COVID-19 protocols the ceremony will be limited to a certain number of people The nation will hold a week of official mourning, during which flags will be flown at half-mast. Government ministries and departments will be closed for three days.

Details of his death have not been yet released by the royal palace.