World

83-year-old Palestinian leader still in hospital after fever

21 of May 2018

FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2018 file photo, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meets with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, in the West Bank town of Ramallah. A Palestinian official said Sunday, May 20, 2018, that the 83-year-old Abbas has been hospitalized with fever. Abbas, a heavy smoker, has a long history of health issues. He has not designated a successor. (Atef Safadi/Pool Photo via AP, File),FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2018 file photo, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meets with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, in the West Bank town of Ramallah. A Palestinian official said Sunday, May 20, 2018, that the 83-year-old Abbas has been hospitalized with fever. Abbas, a heavy smoker, has a long history of health issues. He has not designated a successor. (Atef Safadi/Pool Photo via AP, File)

The Palestinian president remains in hospital after being taken there with a fever following a minor ear procedure. Mahmoud Abbas was hospitalized on Sunday with a fever, just days after undergoing ear surgery. His health issues have triggered anxiety over who will succeed him.

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Palestinian president remains in hospital after being taken there with a fever following a minor ear procedure.

The 83-year-old leader has endured a series of recent health scares which have revived anxiety over who will succeed him.

Mahmoud Abbas was hospitalized on Sunday with a fever just days after undergoing ear surgery. His condition was not immediately known on Monday.

Palestinian officials on Sunday said Abbas has pneumonia, that he was on a respirator and was receiving antibiotics intravenously. They said he was conscious and lucid.

Abbas, who is a heavy smoker and overweight, has a long history of health issues, ranging from heart trouble to a bout with prostate cancer a decade ago. Two years ago, he underwent an emergency heart procedure after suffering exhaustion and chest pains.