Is Hosni Mubarak dead?

[bik0]

Major Unconfirmed Rumors Spread Across The Internet That Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Is Dead
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Joe Weisenthal | Mar. 14, 2010, 4:20 PM | 310 | 2
Tags: International

Mubarak with Brazil's Lula
As reported by Neal Ungerleider at True/Slant, rumors are spreading across the Arab-speaking internet that Egyption Prisdent Hosni Mubarak has died after surgery in Germany.
The talk of the Egyptian blogosphere right now is a fast-spreading rumor that President Hosni Mubarak has died. Hundreds of Egyptian and Arabic-speaking Twitter users are posting news of the 81-year-old leader’s death. The reports occurred after reports of Mubarak dying in a German hospital were broadcast on Russian television and on Arabic television.

Hosni Mubarak has been the President of Egypt since 1981, making him the country’s longest-serving leader since Mohammed Ali.

Ungerleider goes onto lay out what is known and what is speculation, and notes some odd moves on the part of the Egyption government, including the banning of Skype.

Chalk this up as MAJOR UNCONFIRMED RUMOR. But we thought you should know that it's out there.

For what it's worth, the same rumors bubbled up in 2004.

Here's what our Gregory White observes:

Mubarak's death would start a fight for power in Egypt, with Mubarak's family in line to win due to the loyalty of the secret police and military. The Muslim brotherhood, staunch opponents of Egypt's ambiguos position on israel would be second choice. Their sizable membership, along with renewed anti Israel sentiment due to the 1500 new settlements Netanyahu approved, could increase populist sentiment around the party. At best they will be appeased, at worst they'll be jailed and beaten.

An outside option is the pro liberalisation group which would like to see the state's more than 50 percent grip on the economy abate.

United states middle east envoy Richard holbrooke will have a more difficult visit to Israel this week than previously imagined if this rumor proves true.

http://www.businessinsider.com/major-unconfirmed-rumors-spread-across-the-internet-that-egyption-president-hosni-mubarak-is-dead-2010-3

[VanW]

1. I saw that too.

If it's true, it will wipe out all other news in the middle east for a while. His son Gamal is next in line, but he is not considered to be especially competent.

Even if it's not true, Mubarak is on his last legs.

[HopeHoops]

12. Gamal can't be any less competent than the shrub.

Just sayin'.

[Odin2005]

2. This part gave me a chuckle:

"making him the country’s longest-serving leader since Mohammed Ali."

I know it is refering to an early 19th century Egyptian leader of Albanian origin by that name, but I can't help thinking about "The Greatest". :rofl:

[malaise]

9. LOL

I noticed that but the spelling is different.

[scarletwoman]

11. Well, since you admitted it, I'll admit to having the same chuckle.

I was thinking, like, Well okay then, bring back "The Greatest"! He'll take care of your shit! :woohoo:

[Mudoria]

13. Float like a butterfly, sting like an asp

[Forkboy]

16. If only.

:)

[elfin]

3. If true, could be seriously nasty. eom

[FarCenter]

4. He had gall bladder surgery on 3/6

He was in intensive care, but was said to leave intensive care last Wednesday.

It's a little odd that he went to intensive care and that he has been in hospital so long.

[malaise]

5. He was quite ill

and he's not exactly young.

[VanW]

6. German hospital: Mubarak's recovery from surgery progressing normally

02:35 AM Mar 14, 2010
BERLIN (AP) - Egypt's ministry of information says Hosni Mubarak's doctor at a German clinic is pleased with the president's recovery from surgery two weeks ago to remove his gall bladder.

The ministry issued a statement Saturday citing surgeon Markus Buechler of the Heidelberg University Hospital as saying Mubarak's recovery was "progressing normally."

The 81-year-old leader had his gall bladder removed at the clinic on March 6.

Mubarak's term in office ends next year and concern about his health often prompts speculation about the leadership of the Arab world's most populous nation, which is also a U.S. ally.

- AP

http://www.todayonline.com/BreakingNews/EDC100314-0000017/German-hospital--Mubaraks-recovery-from-surgery-progressing-normally


The time on this article is 2:35 AM, German time, roughly 24 hours ago.



edit:

Reuters:

Zakaria Azmi, Egypt's chief of presidential staff, said Mubarak was expected to hold a live telephone conversation on Egyptian television in the next few days, Egyptian television reported on Saturday. - Reuters
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_Africa&set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20100314223207506C311452

[VanW]

8. An Egyptian blogger writes on Twitter:

"Unconfirmed news: Mubarak is badly afflicted after surgery and can't speak or interact, and can't rule Egypt"

http://twitter.com/mfatta7/statuses/10492276628

[bemildred]

7. Don't go getting my hopes up. nt

[scarletwoman]

10. Well, that would certainly bring some extra volatility to an already volatile part of the world.

How does that Chinese curse go again? The one about living in interesting times?

Poor Egypt, I wish all the best for her people.

sw

[kenny blankenship]

23. Yea verily, American Democracy never had no better friend in the region than Pres. for life Mubarak

(Unless it were that old King Fahd, who backed us against Iran and then Iraq)
Hosni tortured people there so we wouldn't have to torture them here. Aye, you're a better man than I am, Gunga Din! Number one regimental beastie.

[VanW]

14. Egyptian Embassy Denies Mubarak Death Rumor

Egyptian blogs and websites like Twitter have been buzzing with rumors that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has died while undergoing a gall bladder operation in Germany on March 6th.

The rumors are so strong that the Egyptian stock market dropped by over 6 percent in the past two days amid concerns about the president's health, especially since the question of succession in Egypt is still unclear.

...

"If Mubarak was able to say just say 'hi,' the television would have shown him saying 'hi,' but he is in a total coma,"said one post on Twitter.

A spokesman at the Egyptian embassy in Washington vehemently denied the rumor today to CBS News, saying that he should be released from the hospital in Germany in a number of days.

Mubarak's German medical team at Heidelberg University Hospital also issued statements through the Egyptian government saying Mubarak was recovering normally.

But the fact that the 81-year-old Mubarak has not appeared publicly since the surgery is fueling the rumors. Mubarak has been ruled Egypt since 1981 and is the country's longest-serving president. Mubarak has temporarily delegated powers to Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, next in line with the constitution.

There are now reports that Mubarak will make a statement by phone from his hospital in Germany to dismiss the rumors. The President's health is an extremely sensitive issue in Egypt and especially as it is still unclear who will succeed Mubarak. Mubarak did not announce yet if he will be running for president during the 2011 elections and many believe he has been grooming his son Gamal for the post.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20000485-503543.html

[VanW]

15. Another rumor on Twitter:

@harvarddr: egypt prez hosni mubarak is clinically dead in a coma after chemotherapy-surgry for cancer pancreas.no video or audio of prez available sinc


No source, of course.

I am starting to think that Mubarak is pining for the fjords, if you catch my drift.

[Forkboy]

17. I'm still waiting for news on Andropov's condition.

[VanW]

18. and General Francisco Franco

what has he been up to, anyway?

[Forkboy]

19. That fucking guy....

I saw him on Cape Cod last week, listening to Carly Simon. Go figure! :)

[Dr.Phool]

20. No, but Buckwheat is.

[comrade snarky]

21. This could get interesting

"Interesting" being a euphemism for horribly bloody.

Mubarak has painted his country into a corner. It's a repressive police state with no clear successor to Pharaoh. Gamal isn't seen as a strong enough leader to take the reigns. He probably has the loyalty of the military but the Muslim Brotherhood has been moving it's people into the ranks. I don't know how much power they may wield inside the army. If free and open elections were held the Brotherhood would stand a good chance of winning a majority. Lots of people see them as an answer to the brutality that can be part of everyday life under Mubarak.

That could be nasty for a lot of people if it's true. I hope Egypt can chart a clear course.

[VanW]

22. Egypt TV Shows Mubarak for First Time Since Surgery

March 16 (Bloomberg) -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak appeared on television today for the first time since undergoing surgery in Germany this month, ending a public absence that fueled concern about his health.

Mubarak, 81, appeared on the state-run Nile News television sitting at a table and talking to his doctors at Heidelberg University Hospital, where he had his gall bladder removed on March 6.

“He looks forward to returning to normal activity,” Dr. Markus Buechler of the hospital said in a televised statement. “His medical and general condition is improving in a satisfactory manner.”

Egypt’s benchmark stock index, the EGX30 Index, gained 1.8 percent to 6,465.65 at the close in Cairo, ending a three-day losing streak, as investor concern over the health of Mubarak following his operation waned. Mubarak has ruled the Arab world’s most populous country for 28 years, the longest period of any leader since the overthrow of the monarchy in 1952.

Investors concerned about Mubarak’s health had pushed the measure this week to its biggest three-day drop since November. Unlike his two predecessors, Mubarak hasn’t appointed a vice president and has no designated successor. He has handed power temporarily to Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601104&sid=a9H22356xd0s


Well, apparently he wasn't pining for the fjords after all. Still a lot of tension over his succession, though.

[spanone]

24. it's hard to be on television when you're dead. he must still be alive!

[VanW]

25. I don't know...Dick Clark has had quite a career! n/t