Abbas undergoes heart procedure
01/05/2008 20:26  - (SA)  

No peace progress, says Abbas Palestinian state 'a priority' Hamas will accept deal if... 12 flee West Bank prison Israel might re-open crossings Rice to push peace process Fatah gives Hamas ultimatum US doubts Hamas-Fatah deal

Jerusalem - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas underwent an unannounced heart test at a Jordanian hospital on Thursday, adding new uncertainty to already troubled peace talks.

Aides to Abbas, 73, said he was doing well after a catheterisation procedure meant to test for blockage in his blood vessels. They said the treatment was successful, and he would be returning to the West Bank on Friday, adding that they expect him to return to work immediately after his arrival.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli aircraft sent missiles slamming at a group of Hamas militants, killing a gunman involved in the capture of an Israeli soldier two years ago, the Israeli military said. The death threatened to cloud Egyptian-led efforts to broker a truce in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

In a separate incident, Palestinian medical officials said a 62-year-old civilian was killed and three militants wounded by Israeli fire, during fighting near the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis. The military said there had been exchanges of fire in the area but could not immediately give further details.

In Amman, Abbas' physician, Dr Abdullah al-Bashir, said he performed an angiogram as part of an annual medical checkup that also included blood tests. He said Abbas left the hospital and would return to the West Bank on Friday.

Saeb Erekat, a top aide to Abbas, said he spoke to the Palestinian leader from the West Bank on Thursday afternoon. "He's doing very very well. He's in very high spirits. He even joked to me," Erekat said.

He said Abbas planned to resume his schedule immediately and has meetings scheduled with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday and with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sometime next week.

Israeli officials had no immediate comment on Abbas' test.

It was not clear how Abbas' health problems would affect peace talks, if at all. Dr Victor Guetta, deputy director of the heart institute at Sheba Medical Centre in Tel Aviv, said patients can go back to work immediately after the procedure.

 

 Yahoo

 

 Digg

 Del.icio.us

 Facebook

What is this?

 News24 on mobile

 News24 on facebook profile