Iraqi President hospitalized over ‘health emergency’December 18, 2012 - 15:15 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd who has been a pivotal mediator among Iraq's fractious Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish parties, was hospitalized in Baghdad because of a "health emergency", his office said on Tuesday, Dec 18. According to Reuters, Talabani's office gave no further details of his medical condition, but a senior source in his Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK party said the president, who is 79, was admitted to hospital for exhaustion. "A specialized medical team is taking care of him and a report will be issued later," the statement from the presidential office said. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki visited Talabani at the Baghdad hospital on Tuesday. Should Talabani be incapacitated, Iraq would lose an influential negotiator who often stepped in to ease tensions in the fragile power-sharing government, including during a recent attempt to push a vote of no confidence against Maliki. He has been suffering from ill health this year and received medical treatment overseas several times in the last two years. According to Iraq's constitution, the parliament should elect a new president if the post becomes vacant. Under Iraq's power-sharing deal the presidency should go to a Kurd while two deputy president positions are shared by a Sunni Muslim and a Shi'ite Muslim. Mediation by Talabani recently helped reduce friction between Maliki's central government and the autonomous Kurdistan president, Masoud Barzani, in a dispute over oilfield rights and internal boundaries. A veteran of the Kurdish guerrilla movement, Talabani survived wars, exile and infighting in northern Iraq to become the country's first Kurdish president a few years after the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Armenian, Saudi Foreign Minister meet in Riyadh The two commended the positive dynamics of the development of political dialogue between Armenia and Saudi Arabia Pashinyan: Azerbaijan’s proximity shouldn’t worry border residents At the same time, he said that he “does not guarantee [the security of villagers] one hundred percent”. U.S. doesn’t see Russia as contributing to peace in Caucasus Patel made the remarks when asked about the implications of Russia’s withdrawal of peacekeepers from Karabakh. Up to 1% cashback when shopping on Wildberries with IDBank cards IDBank is launching an exclusive campaign on Wildberries for online shopping enthusiasts. |