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Tunisia President Beji Caid Essebsi suffers 'severe health crisis' | Tunisia President Beji Caid Essebsi suffers 'severe health crisis' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi is in hospital after suffering a "severe health crisis", officials say. | |
They gave no further details. Mr Essebsi - who at 92 is the world's oldest sitting president - was also treated in hospital last week. | |
PM Youssef Chahed said Mr Essebsi was receiving all the attention he needed and people should stop spreading "fake news" about his condition. | |
There had been reports that the president had died. | |
Mr Chahed said in a Facebook post (in Arabic) that he had visited the president in hospital. | |
Mr Essebsi won Tunisia's first free elections in 2014 following Arab uprisings across the region. | |
Earlier this year, he announced he would not stand in elections expected in November, saying someone younger should take charge. | Earlier this year, he announced he would not stand in elections expected in November, saying someone younger should take charge. |
Mr Essebsi is the world's third oldest sitting world leader - behind only Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. They are both 93. | Mr Essebsi is the world's third oldest sitting world leader - behind only Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. They are both 93. |
Former Tunisian President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali was ousted in 2011 after 23 years in office. | Former Tunisian President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali was ousted in 2011 after 23 years in office. |
Since then, Tunisia has won praise as the only democracy to emerge from the revolutions of the so-called Arab spring. | Since then, Tunisia has won praise as the only democracy to emerge from the revolutions of the so-called Arab spring. |
However, in recent years the country has suffered attacks by Islamists and economic problems, with unemployment a persistent issue. | However, in recent years the country has suffered attacks by Islamists and economic problems, with unemployment a persistent issue. |