Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who is undergoing treatment for a slipped disc in a top German clinic, made his first television appearance in five days to reassure Egyptians on his condition.
Mubarak, 76, appeared on Egyptian state television pale and gaunt, in blue pyjamas and a striped dressing gown.
"I thank my people who are worried over my health," he said in a statement lasting almost a minute.
"I am currently following a (medical) treatment. The doctors are excellent and have said they will not carry out surgery until they are sure that the treatment is having results," he said.
"It will take time, but not too much," he added.
Mubarak also reassured the Egyptian people that despite his hospitalisation he was "directing work from here up to a certain point" and the "government is working" even during his absence.
He insisted that his presence in a German clinic should be seen as "a week's leave of absence, because one has to rest a bit".
Mubarak was admitted to the private Orthozentrum orthopedic clinic in Munich on Monday.
"The general state of the president's health is excellent," Egyptian Health Minister Awad Tajeddin told Egytian state television on Wednesday from Germany.
Doctors have delayed an initial decision to operate on Mubarak to try out a new medication. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
