Former Dictator Suharto's Health Worsens

myfoxkc.com

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia's former dictator Suharto was on a dialysis machine in critical condition Saturday, doctors said, as the president called on the nation to pray for his rapid recovery.

Suharto, 86, was admitted Friday to Pertamina Hospital with swollen intestines, a dangerously low heart rate and anemia, said chief presidential physician Brig. Gen. Mardjo Subiandono, adding that he also needed a second pacemaker.

"The dialysis has begun ... but he is still in critical condition because his blood pressure could drop at any time," he said.

Suharto, accused of overseeing a brutal purge of more than half a million left-wing opponents at the outset of his 32-year reign, was conscious but drowsy from medication, several Cabinet members said after visiting him.

"We should pray for the best and hope all efforts to restore his health will be successful," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in a statement issued at his palace in the capital. "The country always gives the best health treatment to former leaders."

A dialysis machine and other equipment was rushed to Suharto's bedside and 40 specialists assembled to diagnose and treat the former strongman, who was toppled by a pro-democracy uprising during the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis. |more...|

No2uMNO - Our Malaysian Doctators are all still OK .... Hope later