Posted on 07/03/2008 7:57:24 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Zambia and France have denied world media reports that President Levy Mwanawasa had died following a stroke he suffered while attending the Africa Union summit in Egypt earlier this week.
Zambia Vice-President Rupiah Banda denied Thursday’s media reports that the president had died, saying the leader was in a stable condition at the hospital he was rushed to in Paris.
"The president had (a) satisfactory night at the Percy military hospital in France. The news reports ... are not true," VP Banda said in a statement.
A statement from France’s Foreign ministry also said the President was still recovering at the Percy military hospital.
Earlier on Thursday, South Africa's Talk Radio 702 reported that Mwanawasa had died, quoting a Zambian High Commission spokesman. The radio report was picked and broadcast around the world in a Reuters dispatch.
Mwanawasa, 59, an outspoken critic of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, was rushed to hospital on Sunday in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh after suffering a stroke on the eve of an African Union summit.
He was later transferred to Paris for treatment.
Banda said Mwanawasa was being treated for hypertension.
Mr Mwanawasa chairs the Southern African Development Community, which has been mediating between President Robert Mugabe and the opposition to try to end a political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe.
He suffered a mild stroke in 2006 but said before being re-elected that year that he was fit to stand for office.
PING!
Is this the same “military hospital” where the AIDS-ridden Arafat breathed his last?
Such a capacity for trivia.
Indeed the homosexual pervert terrorist died there.
"Hopital d'Instruction des Armees de Percy, southwest of Paris, is known to have some of France's best HIV/AIDS doctors."
yitbos
Ipso facto, this President Mwanawasa must have the same problem. Not really a surprise that an African bigwig would have the disease, the more “wives” and mistresses in that part of the world, the more opportunities to acquire the gift that keeps on giving.
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