Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said he planned to rest at home for a few more days to recover from a stiff muscle in his back and did not give a date as to when he would be back in his office, in comments published Wednesday in the Turkish press.
"There is nothing wrong with my health," Ecevit, who has been on sick leave since being hospitalized on May 4th for an intestinal infection, told the Hurriyet daily.
"Due to a wrong movement I have locked up a muscle in my back, which, of course, takes some time to get better," the 77-year-old premier said, adding that he would be working out of home until then.
Ecevit was originally expected to be back in his office on Monday, but he said in a written statement that he had extended his sick leave for "another two or three days" to properly recover from his infection.
The Turkish press had then speculated that the Premier would be back on Thursday to chair a meeting of the Higher Planning Board, however the meeting was postponed as Economy Minister Kemal Dervis would be in Paris for the OECD ministers' meeting.
Asked by the liberal Radikal daily on when he would return to his office, Ecevit said: "I do not know yet".
However, the mass circulation Sabah daily speculated that the Prime Minister would be back on May 20th.
Ecevit's condition has brought new calls for him to retire on account of his age and due to fears of the economic repercussions of his eventual death at a time when the country is battling its worst recession in decades.
Ecevit's health has been a growing concern in Turkey in recent years due to his age and his public gaffes, which have led to doubts as to whether he is fit to run the country.
The Prime Minister has been receiving treatment since June last year for myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease characterized by varying degrees of muscle weakness. (Albawaba.com)
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