Egyptian TV airs footage of pale-looking president Mubarak
The footage was the first of the Egyptian leader since he underwent an operation
Cairo: Egypt's official TV on Tuesday aired footage of Presidnt Hosni Mubarak, looking pale, while speaking to his medical team in a German hospital.
The footage was the first of the Egyptian leader since he underwent an operation to get gallbladder and a benign growth removed on March 6.
The Egyptian television quoted the head of the medical team as saying that Mubarak, 81, was upbeat and in very good spirits.
"I am happy to say that his medical and general condition is improving in a satsifactory manner," added Markus Buhler of the University of Heidlberg Hospital. "His physical activity and appetite have improved significantly over the last few days. Accordingly and as of Tuesday, no further daily follow-up laboratory investigations are required," he said.
The footage came a few days after rumour went into circulation on websites that Mubarak's health was deteriorating. Such rumours were apparently behind a steep drop on the Egyptian stock market on Sunday and Monday.
Mubarak, who has been in power since 1981, has yet to say if he will seek a sixth term in 2011.
