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Zambian president ill in hospital Zambia president 'suffers stroke'
(1 day later)
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has been rushed to hospital in the Egyptian resort of Sharm-el-Sheikh. Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa is being treated for a mild stroke in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Zambia's vice-president has said.
Reports say Mr Mwanawasa, 59, experienced sharp chest pains, but is now in a stable condition. Mr Mwanawasa's condition was described as stable.
He is due to attend an African Union summit in the resort on Monday, which is expected to focus on Zimbabwe's controversial presidential election. The president, 59, was rushed to hospital on Sunday with sharp chest pains ahead of an African Union summit.
Mr Mwanawasa has taken a tough line against Robert Mugabe's regime, calling the election undemocratic. The summit was expected to address Zimbabwe's disputed election. Mr Mwanawasa has taken a tough line against Robert Mugabe's regime.
"I wish to inform the nation that the president had suffered a stroke," Zambian Vice-President Rupiah Banda said in a statement.
"However, upon being attended to by doctors his condition has been described as stable."
Mr Mwanawasa, the current chairman of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), said he sympathised with Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai when he withdrew from the presidential election because of political violence against his supporters.Mr Mwanawasa, the current chairman of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), said he sympathised with Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai when he withdrew from the presidential election because of political violence against his supporters.
"Elections held in such an environment will... bring embarrassment to the Sadc region and the entire continent of Africa," he said then."Elections held in such an environment will... bring embarrassment to the Sadc region and the entire continent of Africa," he said then.
He has compared the economic situation in Zimbabwe to "a sinking Titanic".He has compared the economic situation in Zimbabwe to "a sinking Titanic".
The Zambian president had been due to sit next to Mr Mugabe at the AU summit, where seating is arranged alphabetically.
Egypt's state news agency Mena reported that the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit was monitoring Mr Mwanawasa's treatment in Sharm el-Sheikh, and that President Hosni Mubarak had visited him in hospital.Egypt's state news agency Mena reported that the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit was monitoring Mr Mwanawasa's treatment in Sharm el-Sheikh, and that President Hosni Mubarak had visited him in hospital.