Levy suffers stroke

Levy suffers stroke
By Chibaula Silwamba and Lambwe Kachali
Tuesday July 01, 2008 [04:00]

PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa has suffered a stroke, Vice-President Rupiah Banda disclosed yesterday. And Patriotic Front president Michael Sata, said he was touched by President Mwana-wasa's illness. In a press statement issued in Lusaka, Vice-President Banda said President Mwanawasa's condition had since improved after being attended to by doctors in Egypt.

"As a further update on the condition of the President, Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, I wish to inform the nation that the President had suffered a stroke. However, upon being attended to by doctors, his condition has been described as stable," Vice-President Banda said.
He urged the nation to pray for President Mwanawasa's quick recovery.

The Vice-President also disclosed that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak visited President Mwanawasa at Sharm-EL-Sheikh International Hospital last night where he was admitted on Sunday.

According to Middle East News Agency (MENA), an Egyptian news agency, President Mwanawasa fell ill during a session of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
MENA stated that President Mwanawasa was expected to be flown to Cairo for further treatment.

They stated that Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit was monitoring President Mwanawasa's treatment.
President Mwanawasa was attending the African Union (AU) heads of state summit in the resort city of Sharm-el-Sheikh.
In March 2006, President Mwanawasa suffered a minor stroke and was flown to London for specialist treatment.

And Sata said he was touched by President Mwanawasa's illness and that if he had money he would have flown to see him in Egypt.
"I am very sorry. I hope he has not been bewitched by the enemies of our reconciliation. My brother Levy and I have a huge task ahead of us. I wish him a quick recovery and I will keep on trying to get in touch with him and know how he is recovering," said Sata.