GERMANY: PRESIDENT SUHARTO ARRIVES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT

(8 Jul 1996) English/Nat

President Suharto of Indonesia arrived in Germany today (on Monday) for medical treatment.

Suharto was to be treated for kidney stones, according to a presidential source in Jakarta.

But there are concerns the stones may have affected his heart.

President Suharto arrived early Monday morning in Germany to see doctors for medical treatment.

Suharto was taken to Bad Oeynhausen, a spa with several clinics about 80 kilometres (50 miles) to the west of Hanover.

Four of his six children and some grandchildren accompanied the Indonesian president.

Suharto, 75-years-old, was to be treated for kidney stones, according to a presidential source in Jakarta.

But Germany's Bild newspaper said Suharto was expected to see a heart surgeon, specializing on "problematic, older, patients".

According to some members of his entourage there is nothing wrong with Suharto, he's just looking for a second opinion.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"He really want to be checked, let's say for, by another medical team, to have, let's say a second opinion compared to the opinion of the Indonesian, but not because of certain disease, not at all, just for a preventive check."
SUPER CAPTION: Habibie, Minister of Energy

Suharto's kidney problem was discovered in 1994, when a stone was also found in his urinary tract.

Suharto passed that stone but treatment of his kidney was put off at the insistence of his children, said a doctor who looked after Suharto in 1994.

The doctor said Suharto may also have a heart problem.

The ailment has raised questions about Suharto's plans to run in 1998 for a seventh term as president.

Suharto, a general who took power in 1966 after a failed coup blamed on communists, is Asia's longest-ruling leader.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...