Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Zimbabwe's President Mugabe Treated in Dubai Hospital

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has received treatment in a Dubai hospital after falling unwell, a South African newspaper reported on Wednesday.

But there was no official comment and The Times newspaper quoted Zimbabwean sources as saying Mugabe was still expected to return to Harare before a visit by South African President Jacob Zuma scheduled for Thursday.

"It emerged yesterday that Mugabe, who is 85, was not well and was undergoing specialist treatment in the UAE (United Arab Emirates)," the newspaper said, citing unnamed sources.

Speculation regularly surfaces over the health of Mugabe. He has been in power since independence in 1980 and in February formed a unity government with old rival Morgan Tsvangirai to try to end political crisis and economic decline.

The Times said it was believed Mugabe was being treated by a Malaysian urologist.