RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudis prayed on Saturday for King Fahd and anxiously awaited news of their monarch one day after he was admitted to hospital suffering from pneumonia and fever.
The official SPA news agency quoted an official saying King Fahd, who is in his early 80s, was doing well after having undergone routine tests on Friday. But medical sources said his condition was far more serious.
Life in the capital Riyadh appeared normal on Saturday morning, with roads filling up with post-weekend traffic and no sign of extra security measures in place.
Yet the health of the monarch, who was incapacitated by a stroke in 1995, was clearly a cause of great concern to many. Some people believed the king was in a coma while others were convinced he was critically ill.
“He is like a father to us. I hope he recovers quickly,” said Abdullah al Zaharan, a 27 year-old member of Saudi Arabia’s national guard, which has been at the frontline of the battle against al Qaeda attacks in the oil- rich kingdom.
“The news came as a huge shock,” said Abu Fahad, a 24 year-old university student. “I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Others were taking the government’s requests for prayers for the king as an ominous sign. Most said they expected a smooth succession with Crown Prince Abdullah taking over as scripted.
“There have been so many rumours in the past about the king’s health, so I found it difficult to believe at first that he really was in hospital,” said Fahad al Dakhaly, 26.
“I think the fact the government so quickly told us about the king’s condition means things are very serious this time.”
Mohammed Sulaiman, a 47 year-old businessman, went even further in his speculation.
“I actually think he is already dead and that the authorities are holding out on telling the people so that the news doesn’t come as too much of a shock,” he said, sipping coffee at a roadside cafe.
Sulaiman said it was unusual for the government to issue a statement saying the king had been seen by doctors. “In the past the government would wait until after the king had been discharged from hospital before telling people.”
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/breakingnews/view.asp?msgID=9118
rumours and counter rumours hopefully this time this traitor and hypocrite will be dead, unfortunately for the muslims there are 100 more stupid leaders ready to take his place.
