President's flu worsened by heavy schedule: Wimar

President's flu worsened by heavy schedule: Wimar

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid was treated for
influenza on Tuesday and his spokesman said that the President's
heavy schedule has made his symptoms worse.

"Actually the signs (of flu) were evident even before he left
for Qatar on Nov. 12 and his heavy schedule made his flu worse,"
Presidential spokesman Wimar Witoelar told The Jakarta Post in a
telephone interview.

Wimar was referring to Abdurrahman's overseas trip to Qatar
and Brunei to attend the Organization of the Islamic Conference
summit and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit
respectively.

"So, his doctors have advised him to slow down because we want
to be sure he will be well enough to attend ASEAN (Association of
Southeast Asian Nations) informal summit in Singapore on Nov.
23," Wimar said, adding that "the President has been receiving
guests selectively".

Abdurrahman is scheduled to leave Jakarta for the summit on
Thursday and Wimar said Tuesday that "as of now there has been no
change in the plan".

He said Abdurrahman underwent a series of tests on Tuesday
including "a chest x-ray using portable equipment which was
borrowed from the Gatot Subroto army hospital".

"He is coughing slightly but apart from that he is fine,"
Wimar said.

Earlier in the day, chief of the presidential medical team
Umar Wahid admitted that Abdurrahman's condition had not improved
"as had been expected".

"Yesterday (Monday), his condition was not getting better so
he (Abdurrahman) has been advised to rest," Umar, who is also
Abdurrahman's younger brother, told journalists at the
presidential palace. (byg)