Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed was hospitalised in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Tuesday, amid conflicting reports on the seriousness of the 72-year-old's condition. "The Somali president has been admitted here. He is in serious condition," said one hospital official, who declined to be identified.
A presidential aide confirmed Yusuf was admitted at Nairobi Hospital but played down the health risk, insisting he would be travelling abroad shortly.
Mauro Saio, a doctor at the exclusive Nairobi hospital, said Yusuf had been admitted with a chest infection. "He had a cough for two or three days ... he decided to come and have a check, which we have done and haven't found anything serious," he told reporters.
Yusuf has suffered chronic health problems and survived a 2006 suicide car bomb attack that killed his brother and four of his bodyguards. In recent weeks, he had seemed frail during some public appearances, had lost weight and suffered from heavy shaking.
He is believed to be one of the world's longest-surviving liver transplantees and his ill health has been a source of concern in Somali political circles as well as among his foreign supporters.
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