The Glob and Mail: Nelson Mandela has successful surgery to remove gallstones, presidency says
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – South Africa’s former president Nelson Mandela underwent a successful surgery to remove gallstones Saturday, the nation’s presidency said, as the 94-year-old anti-apartheid icon is still recovering from a lung infection.
Doctors treating Mr. Mandela waited to perform the endoscopic surgery as they wanted to first attend to his lung ailment, presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said in a statement. Mr. Mandela has been hospitalized since Dec. 8.
“The procedure was successful and Madiba is recovering,” Mr. Maharaj said, using Mr. Mandela’s clan name as many do in South Africa as a sign of affection.
South Africa reveres Mr. Mandela for being the nation’s first democratically elected president who sought to bring the country together after centuries of racial division.
Mr. Mandela largely retired from public life after serving one five-year term as president and has lived a mostly private life since. He last made a public appearance when his country hosted the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament. Mr. Mandela has also grown more frail in recent years, with his grip on politics in the nation ever slackening.
He was admitted last week to a hospital in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, the government has said. However, government officials have contradicted themselves in recent days about Mr. Mandela’s location, raising questions about who is actually treating him.
With the government refusing to say where Mr. Mandela is, concern has been growing and rumours continue to fly across this nation of 50 million people about Mr. Mandela’s health.
Mr. Mandela has a history of lung problems, after falling ill with tuberculosis in 1988 toward the tail-end of his 27 years in prison before his release and subsequent presidency. While doctors said at the time the disease caused no permanent damage to his lungs, medical experts say tuberculosis can cause problems years later for those infected.
The Nobel laureate had an acute respiratory infection in January, 2011. Following the chaos that surrounded Mr. Mandela’s stay at a public hospital then, the South African military took charge of his care and the government took over control of the information about his health.- www.shfaqna.com/English
Successful NAM summit proves Iran security
SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) — An Iranian Friday prayer leader praised Iran’s success in holding Non Aligned Movement (NAM) summit as a move that foiled efforts to isolate Iran.
Grand Ayatollah Reza Ostadi, Interim Friday prayer leader of Qom in his sermon criticized anti Iran efforts to persuade the world that Iranian nation abhors its government and said NAM summit foiled the plots of enemies, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).
Iranian cleric referred to anti Iran sanctions as one effort of the enemies to prove that Iranian people do not approve their government and said the people in Iran, contrary to economic problems, support their government.
He said, “Success of Iran in holding NAM summit was became the means for the enemies to discover that Iran is not isolated and that full security and stability prevails in the country.”
Iranian religious figure also referred to the wide media coverage of Tehran summit saying,” Following the summit, the wording of some countries towards Iran has changed.”
He quoted some western media that counted Iran’s hosting Non Aligned Summit, as a slap against UNSC sanctions on Iran.—www.shafaqna.com/English
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