SERBIA: Hunger striking opposition leader Tomislav Nikolic taken to hospital

Record ID: 339424

  • Title: SERBIA: Hunger striking opposition leader Tomislav Nikolic taken to hospital
  • Date: 18th April 2011
  • Summary: BELGRADE, SERBIA (APRIL 17, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BELGRADE PRIVATE CLINICAL HOSPITAL CENTRE AMBULANCE WHICH CARRIED LEADER OF SERBIAN PROGRESSIVE PARTY, TOMISLAV NIKOLIC, IN HOSPITAL GARAGE HOSPITAL WINDOW NIKOLIC BODY GUARDS VARIOUS OF LEADER OF SERBIAN PROGRESSIVE PARTY, TOMISLAV NIKOLIC, IN HOSPITAL BED, NURSE TENDING TO NIKOLIC DOCTOR FROM BELGRADE PRIVATE
  • Embargoed: 3rd May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Serbia, Serbia
  • Country: Serbia
  • Topics: Health,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACLTM92WG5N5JC1OSBDDIO2XHA
  • Story Text: A doctor at a private clinic in Belgrade says opposition leader Tomislav Nikolic's health suddenly deteriorated because Nikolic refuses to drink water.
    Serbia's leading opposition politician, Tomislav Nikolic from the Serbian Progressive Party, was transferred to a Belgrade's hospital late on Sunday (April 17) - a day after he stopped taking liquids and food to force early elections.
    A doctor at the hospital where Nikolic is being treated said his condition had suddenly deteriorated.
    "In the evening hours, there was a sudden deterioration which resulted in high blood pressure, high anxiety, headache, and other symptoms, great exhaustion, and of course, blood concentration, blood clotting, as a result of not drinking water," said Momcilo Babic.
    "I have to tell you, that he [referring to Tomislav Nikolic] still refuses to take water, refuses to take food, and there is a problem, such a problem can not be simply solved, but we are trying through talks to find an acceptable solution. What I think must be done is that he must take some basic medicine, and I hope he will accept that."
    Nikolic announced his hunger strike at a rally in downtown Belgrade on Saturday.
    Nikolic's Progressive Party, which leads an alliance of several smaller parties, is demanding early elections, higher wages, a crackdown on corruption and pro-European reforms.
    Nikolic and his party have stepped up calls for early elections in recent weeks. Voting is currently due to take place in early 2012.
    Serbian president Boris Tadic visited Nikolic in his office earlier on Sunday and asked him to end the hunger strike. Tadic says it is not possible to fix an election date until Serbia becomes an EU membership candidate, a status it hopes to obtain later this year.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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