WORLD NEWS | Turkish president cancels campaign halted over health concerns

ANKARA, April 27 (AP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced he will cancel a day of campaigning on Wednesday and rest at home a day after Was forced to briefly interrupt the TV interview due to an upset stomach.

Erdogan was giving a live interview to Turkey’s Ulke TV and Kanal 7 later on Tuesday when the program abruptly stopped.

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About 20 minutes later, as the interview continued, Erdogan, 69, explained that he had suffered a severe “stomach flu” during the campaign and apologized for the interruption.

The president, who was due to make a series of appearances in the cities of Kirikale, Yozgat and Sivas on Wednesday, announced on Twitter that he would be resting at home on the advice of his doctor, Vice President Fuat Oktay said. will attend the event on his behalf.

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Erdogan had also canceled a rally planned for Thursday in the southern city of Mersin but would attend a ceremonial meeting marking the start-up of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant via video link, ruling party vice-chairman Erkan Kandemir announced late Wednesday. .

At the same time, Turkish officials also denied online rumors that Erdogan was seriously ill and hospitalized.

“We categorically reject this baseless claim about the health of the President (Erdogan),” his communications director Fahrettin Altun tweeted.

Another senior ruling party member, Omer Celik, wrote: “Our president is still doing his job. After a short break, he will continue with his plans.”

Erdogan, who is seeking a third term as president, has been campaigning hard ahead of the May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections, sometimes attending three or more events a day.

He is facing his toughest electoral test in two decades as prime minister and president, with opinion polls showing his main challenger, center-left opposition leader Kemal Kilidaroglu, slightly ahead.

In 2011, Erdogan underwent what his doctors said was a successful digestive surgery. (Associated Press)

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