Widow of founding President transferred out of intensive care

FORMER TRNC “first lady” Aydın Denktaş, the widow of late founding President Rauf Denktaş, was yesterday afternoon transferred out of intensive care at Lefkoşa State Hospital, where she has been treated for pneumonia since New Year’s Day.

Chief doctor Bülent Dizdarlı said 85year-old Mrs Denktaş had been moved to a normal ward and the danger to her life was “now minimal”.

Mrs Denktaş had been taken off a respirator earlier in the week and is breathing unaided.

Also in the Lefkoşa hospital is United Cyprus Party leader İzzet İzcan, who underwent open heart surgery there on Monday after complaining of weakness and tiredness.

Dr Dizdarlı said the surgery had been decided on after an angiogram revealed blockages in four coronary blood vessels, and the patient was now recovering on a ward after two days in intensive care.

“Four [blood vessels] have been opened up and Mr İzcan’s condition is good,” he said.

Dr Dizdarlı’s own wife, Ombudsman Emine Dizdarlı was also admitted to the hospital on Wednesday after complaining of chest pain and breathing difficulties.

The chief medic said an angiogram had shown no heart problem and she was now resting at home.

Meanwhile former Prime Minister İrsen Küçük was said to be “improving” in the intensive care unit of the American Medical Centre, South Cyprus, where he was admitted last Friday after flu led to an “overload” of infection.

Relatives said the 79-year-old, who has an existing heart condition, was responding, but his recovery would be slow.