Mubarak taken ill during TV speech

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was taken ill during a nationally televised speech opening a new parliament session today.

The state television broadcast was briefly cut during Mubarak’s speech in the parliament building in Cairo.

When the broadcast resumed, it showed members of parliament milling in the hall. Mubarak, who appeared to have been speaking normally and was discussing foreign policy just before the broadcast was cut, was no longer at the podium.

A television announcer said: “The president has suffered a health crisis”.

The parliament speaker, Fathi Sorour, later took the podium to announce: “Mr President is fine and he will get back in minutes.”

Traffic in Cairo was stopped and a helicopter was seen over the parliament building.

Minister of Information Safwat el-Sherif, interviewed by state television, said Mubarak was taking a short rest and would resume his speech later.

El-Sherif said Mubarak had been observing the Muslim fast for the holy month of Ramadan, which ends this weekend, despite a cold for which he was taking antibiotics.

Mubarak, 75, has led Egypt since Anwar Sadat was assassinated by a Muslim extremist on October 6, 1981.