BAGHDAD — Iraq’s ailing President Jalal Talabani is to be airlifted to Germany for specialist treatment after suffering a reported stroke, his office said Wednesday.



Talabani was hospitalized late Monday with what state television reported was a stroke, but doctors said Wednesday his condition was improving. “The president’s condition is improving, and he will be transferred to a hospital in Germany tomorrow,” Thursday, Najm Al-Din Karim, one of Talabani’s doctors, said.



And Barzan Sheikh Othman, the top media official in Talabani’s office, said teams of doctors from Iraq, Germany and Britain decided that the president should be transferred to Germany for further treatment.



Talabani was hospitalized Monday night after what Iraqiya state television reported was a stroke, but doctors and officials have not commented specifically about his health problem.



Earlier in the day, Dr. Hani Mussa Badr, Director General of Baghdad’s Medical City hospital where Talabani was being treated, said that “tests showed the stability and improvement of his excellency’s health condition.”

And Deputy Health Minister Issam Namiq said both Iran and Germany had sent teams to assist with Talabani’s treatment, and that a British team was expected as well.



Under Iraq’s constitution, the vice president takes over if the post of president becomes vacant for any reason, and a new president must be elected by parliament within 30 days. — AFP