Mubarak suffers health scare

EGYPTIAN President Hosni Mubarak interrupted a nationally televised speech to parliament yesterday for more than 30 minutes because of what was described as a "health crisis" before resuming the address amid cheers from lawmakers.

After his return, the only president a generation of Egyptians has known spoke for less than five minutes and then adjourned the parliament session.

"My brothers and sisters, members of the upper and lower houses of parliament, the people gave me the responsibility of building the future of this nation. And I did it with honour," said Mr Mubarak, who had been described as suffering a cold aggravated by fasting for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. After concluding the speech, he was driven away in a limousine.

Before the interruption, the 75-year-old Mubarak's voice had begun to weaken and his speech sounded slightly slurred. His voice was stronger when he returned, and he responded to shouts of support from members of parliament with smiles, waves and thanks before returning to his speech on domestic and foreign policy, which appeared to have been cut short.

Mr Mubarak has led Egypt since Anwar Sadat was assassinated by a Muslim extremist on October 6, 1981. Mr Mubarak was Sadat's vice president.

Recent months have seen speculation Mr Mubarak was grooming his son Gamal to succeed him.

Egypt is a key American ally seen as a moderate mediator in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Lawmaker Murtaza Mansour said Mr Mubarak had complained that the hall was hot and was sweating before his speech was interrupted. Mansour said Mr Mubarak was able to walk away from the podium without aid.

Minister of Health Mohamed Awad Tag Eddin, who is a doctor, told state television Mr Mubarak had a cold and suffered a slight dip in blood pressure.

The minister said Mr Mubarak underwent a checkup before resuming his speech.

A state television announcer had said: "The president has suffered a health crisis" after the broadcast was briefly cut. When the broadcast resumed, it showed members of parliament milling in the hall and Mr Mubarak no longer at the podium. State television continued to broadcast from parliament until Mr Mubarak returned.

The parliament speaker, Fathi Sorour, then took the podium to announce: "Mr President is fine and he will be back in minutes." A Muslim and a Coptic cleric rose to lead prayers for the president's health, to which members responded with "amens."

The parliament opening had been postponed from Saturday because Mr Mubarak was said to have been suffering a cold.