Kuwait's emir Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah was recovering Saturday in a London hospital and in "stable condition" after suffering a "limited" brain hemorrhage, a political source told AFP.
The emir, who has ruled since 1977, was still under sedation and appeared to have lost some sensation in one of his legs, the source said.
"We still don't know how serious it is," he added.
The emir's illness dominated Kuwaiti newspapers Saturday, all of which carried Friday's official statement that Sheikh Jaber had suffered a minor brain hemorrage and that his condition was not serious enough to be admitted to intensive care.
Sheikh Jaber, 73, was taken to London's Cromwell Hospital by private ambulance after arriving aboard his private plane at London's Heathrow Airport on Friday night.
A hospital spokeswoman said security was tight after British police Friday arrested three men and one woman in connection with last week's terrorist strikes on the World Trade Center in New York.
The official Kuwaiti news agency (KUNA) reported that the emir had been hospitalized in the morning for “routine medical checks,” citing a statement by the Emiri Diwan, or court.
The court assured the citizens that “His Highness is in good health.”
Emir Jabir Al Sabah: Profile
Kuwait is a small country with its massive oil reserves, whose economy has been traditionally dominated by the state and its oil industry. It is a constitutional monarchy which had its independence in 1961 by the mutual termination of the protection agreement with Britain. Today, the head of this monarchy is Emir Jaber Al Sabah.
Emir Jaber Al Sabah, is the 3rd son of the late Sheikh Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, who is the late Emir of Kuwait. He was born in Kuwait, in 1928. He started his public life in 1949 as chief of public security in the Oil Fields area until 1959. In 1959, he became chief of the finance department. Then, he became the first minister of finance and economy after independence in 1961, later became minister of finance and industry. Then, the deputy prime minister, vice emir in the absence of the emir, and prime minister. And finally, he was nominated as crown prince on May 31, 1966.
Since 1751, the state of Kuwait has been ruled by the Sabah family, with strong parliamentary influence and a significant role of other families in the oil-rich emirate – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
