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| Arabia |
| King Fahd - One Foot In The Pinebox? |
| 2005-05-27 |
| Via FARK. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — King Fahd (search), who moved Saudi Arabia closer to the United States during his two-decade rule, was taken to a Riyadh hospital Friday for medical tests, the Saudi Press Agency said. An Arab official, speaking on condition of anonymity because But the Interior Ministry denied that any emergency had been declared. "This is absolutely not true," ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki said. "There's no canceling of leaves and no state of emergency or anything." The official news agency carried a royal office statement saying King Fahd, who has been in frail health for years, was admitted to King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh (search) for medical tests. "We ask God to keep and protect the Custodian of the Two Holy Shrines, grant him health and well-being," the statement said. Saudi Arabia (search), the world's largest oil exporter, is the birthplace of Islam and home to its two holiest shrines. One official said doctors believe the monarch has pneumonia. The official requested anonymity because A royal office official, who also requested anonymity, said the king had a fever and "water in his lung" but was expected to leave the hospital soon. He did not elaborate. Fahd, who rose to the throne in 1982, has been ruling in name only since he suffered a stroke in 1995. The stroke left Fahd with short-term memory loss and an inability to concentrate for long stretches. His half brother, Crown Prince Abdullah (search), has been de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia since then. Visitors who saw him after his stroke reported the king was barely aware of what was going on around him and could not recognize those who shook hands with him. Foreign dignitaries have been given brief meetings with the king, who usually is accompanied by close family members. If Fahd dies, Abdullah is expected to take over as ruler. Fahd, who is believed to be 82, is the son of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, King Abdul-Aziz. During his rule, Fahd brought the kingdom closer to the United States and agreed to a step that enraged many The troops later left. |
| Posted by:Raj |
| #2 The other on a banana peel? |
| Posted by: radrh8r 2005-05-27 17:55 |
| #1 Mods - please delete this post; I didn't see Fred's post until now... |
| Posted by: Raj 2005-05-27 15:56 |