| Submit your comments on this article |
| Caucasus |
| Azerbaijani President Collapses at Event |
| 2003-04-22 |
| President Geidar Aliev collapsed and reportedly struck his head during a televised speech Monday, alarming many in the audience and bringing some to Sorta like General Franco: stable but slowly deteriorating. The former KGB general and Communist Party chief has twice won elections criticized as fraudulent, but has also brought stability to Azerbaijan, which has been plagued by insurgencies and a punishing war over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Other than that, rock solid stability! State television twice interrupted the broadcast of Aliev's speech during a celebration of the 30th anniversary of a military academy. The broadcast was first cut after Aliev suddenly clutched his chest and complained of pain. ``Something has struck me,'' he said. Witnesses in the hall said Aliev stumbled backward and looked as if he were about to fall, and aides rushed to support him. People surrounding him called for a doctor before he was led away. About 15 minutes later, Aliev reappeared, looking pale but in control of himself. ``Don't worry, I guess my ill-wishers put the evil eye on me,'' Aliev joked when the live broadcast resumed. ``But they won't be able to hurt me.'' The broadcast was cut again a few minutes later. A witness who agreed to be identified by only his first name, Yalchin, said Aliev fell backward and hit his head on the floor with a thud. Sounds like the ill-wishers came back with an evil ear, two evil teeth and an evil uvula. Another audience member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Aliev looked cheerful and alert as he spoke the second time, and his sudden fall was unexpected. Only after his head hit the floor did guards in the wings and plainclothes security agents sitting in the audience rush to assist him. During both episodes, a hush fell over the audience of more than 2,000, the witnesses said. Cabinet members could be seen nervously smoking in the lobby. A few minutes later, the station returned to the live broadcast again and showed a smiling Aliev congratulating the military cadets and officers on the anniversary. He then ducked behind the curtains, and the celebration continued with a concert. Aliev, who turns 80 next month, had a heart attack in 1987 and underwent bypass surgery at a Cleveland clinic in 1999. He underwent prostate surgery at the same clinic in February 2002. Earlier this year, he underwent a hernia operation there. There's just gotta be a buxom, blonde Las Vegas showgirl who wants to marry this man He has announced his intention to run again in presidential elections this October, but many critics say he is actually paving the way to turn over power to his son Ilkham. Ilkham? Cheeze, who names these kids anyway? |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 Come on. This is a Python script, right? |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-04-22 10:29:25 |
| #2 "I'm not dead yet. I feeeeel happy" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-04-22 07:11:29 |
| #1 OT : at the very end of his personnal via dolorosa (as he was supposed to see it), dear Franco was supposed to spit bloodcloats "the size of an orange". Aliev is still healty as an ox, by comparison. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-04-22 06:01:29 |