A nationally televised speech by Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak to open a parliament meeting was sudddenly interrupted Wednesday by what an announcer said was a "health crisis."
After a short time, the President resumed his place at the podium and continued speaking.
The broadcast was briefly cut during Mubarak's speech in the parliament building in downtown Cairo. When the broadcast resumed, it showed members of parliament milling in the hall. Mubarak was no longer at the podium.
The 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." 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 Mubarak was said to have been suffering a cold.
"It's only normal that cold is common during this time of the year," the state television announcer said Wednesday.
Traffic in downtown Cairo was stopped and a helicopter was seen approaching the parliament building.
Mubarak, 75, has led Egypt since Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1981.
Upon the completion of high school, Hosni Mubarak joined the Egyptian Military Academy, where he received his Bachelor Degree in Military Sciences. In 1950, he joined the Air Force Academy and earned his Bachelor in Aviation Sciences.
In 1964, Mubarak headed the Egyptian Military delegation to the USSR and was appointed as the Commander of the Western Air Force Base, at Cairo West Airfield. During the period from 1967 to 1972, he was appointed as the Director of the Air Force Academy and Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Air Force, and remained in this post until 1972 when he became Commander of the Air Force and Deputy Minister for Military Affairs.
In October 1973, he was promoted to the rank of Air Marshall.
In April 1975, Hosni Mubarak was named the Vice president of Egypt and was appointed as the Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Party, in 1978. In 1981, Hosni Mubarak became President of Egypt and the Chairman of the National Democratic Party. President Mubarak was re-elected by majority votes in 1987,1993, and 1999 for three successive terms.
In June 1995, gunmen fired on his motorcade as he arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for a meeting of the Organization for African Unity. He escaped uninjured. Three Egyptians were later sentenced to death for the attack. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
