Iraqi presidency denies Talabani’s death: TV

The Iraqi presidency office denied reports about President Jalal Talabani’s death at a hospital in the capital Baghdad on Tuesday, an official Iraqi television reported.

“The Iraqi Presidency office denied reports about the death of President Jalal Talabani,” the state-run Iraqia channel said.

Earlier, some local media said that Talabani has died after fast deterioration of his health,according to Xinhua.

However, the government-owned Iraqia channel quoted Naseer al- Aani, head of the presidency office, as saying that “reports about Talabani’s death are not true, and his condition is stable.”

Earlier in the day, a medical source told Xinhua that Talabani was admitted to Baghdad hospital of Madinat al-Tib late Monday night and was unconscious due to stroke and was in critical condition.

An earlier statement by his office confirmed that Talabani has been admitted to a hospital in Baghdad “because of fatigue and tiredness.”

Talabani, 79, has been suffering various health problems in recent years.

M.D