Abbas in hospital for third time in a week

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, has been taken to a West Bank hospital, a Palestinian official said yesterday, but no further details were provided on his condition.

It was the third time Mr Abbas, 82, had been admitted to hospital in a week. He had minor ear surgery on Tuesday and was back in hospital again on Saturday, the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, said.

Mr Abbas failed to attend the extraordinary Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit in Turkey on Friday, which was held to discuss the opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem. A heavy smoker, Mr Abbas has a long history of health issues.