http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/ethiopian-pm-in-critical-state-report/story-fn3dxix6-1226429437993
Ethiopian PM in critical state: report
July 18, 20128:50PM
ETHIOPIAN Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is in a "critical" state in a
Brussels hospital, diplomatic sources claim.
However, the Ethiopian government denies he is unwell.
"He is in a critical state, his life is in danger," said a diplomat
who asked not to be named on Wednesday.
But in Addis Ababa government spokesman Bereket Simon denied reports
the 57-year-old premier was ill.
"He is not in a critical state. He is in good condition," Simon said.
In Brussels, the Ethiopian embassy refused comment. It had said
earlier this week reports Meles was being treated at a hospital were
"false and wrong", rumours created by "an interest group which has
preoccupied itself in disseminating such untrue stories".
But several diplomats in Brussels said he had been undergoing regular
private treatment at one of the city's major hospitals and had been in
hospital for some days.
Questions surfaced about Meles's health when he missed a two-day
African Union summit on Sunday and Monday, apparently for the first
time.
His wife had declined to talk to reporters about her husband, who has
been at the helm of the Horn of Africa nation since 1991.
One of last times Meles was seen in public was at the G20 meeting in
Mexico on June 19.
Received on Wed Jul 18 2012 - 12:51:21 EDT
