Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Photo: Reuters
Arab newspaper implies Abbas in poor health
Al-Quds al-Arabi reports Palestinian president secretly treated in Amman hospital several times in past few weeks
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
is suffering from serious health problems, the London-based Arabic-language al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper implied Tuesday.
According to the report, Abbas visited one of the biggest private hospitals in the Jordanian capital of Amman many times in the past three month, and six times in the past few weeks.
The newspaper said Abbas was last treated in the hospital's "VIP wing" several days ago. The staff treating the Palestinian leader was asked by the hospital's management to ensure full secrecy in regards to his medical condition, the report said, adding that his medical files were being kept in a special cabinet in order to ensure that no one would be able to review it apart from those authorized to do so.
Abbas was treated in Amman about a month ago, after reportedly "slipping in his home". Apart form that incident, his medical condition is said to be intact and there have been no reports on any chronic illnesses the Palestinian leader is suffering from.
Hospital ward closed off
According to Tuesday's report, three special doctors are supervising Abbas' medical condition. Hospital workers told the newspaper that the Palestinian president told them he felt "comfortable" only among them.The ward Abbas has been hospitalized in, the newspaper said, is closed off and guarded when he arrives for treatments or checkups.
The report did not provide any specific details on Abbas' medical condition or the illness he is suffering from. Private doctors interviewed by the paper estimated that he was suffering from a serious infection in some parts of his body, from high blood pressure or exhaustion, and even from heart problems.
The newspaper added that only a few of Abbas' associates were aware of his real medical condition.
