Iraq’s President Rushed To Hospital Suffering From A Stroke

Iraq’s President Jalal Talabani was hospitalized on Monday night suffering from a stroke, according to TV reports.

“Due to fatigue and tiredness, [the president] had a health emergency and was transported … to the hospital in Baghdad”, a statement posted on the president’s official website read.

The president’s office later reported that Talabani’s condition had stabilized:

“Bodily functions are normal and the health condition of his excellency the president is stable,” a statement posted on the presidency’s website said, adding that the emergency was due to hardening of the arteries.

The veteran of the Kurdish guerilla movement underwent heart surgery in 2008 and has survived a number of health scares since he became the country’s first Kurdish President in 2005.

Talabani has been a key negotiator between Iraq’s main sectarian communities, most recently leading attempts to push for a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.