BEIRUT: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem is in the recovery room at a Beirut hospital after he underwent an open-heart surgery, sources familiar with his condition told The Daily Star Friday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the sources said that Moallem was admitted to the American University of Beirut Medical Center’s intensive care unit late Thursday. Thy added that Moallem, 73, was taken to hospital under tight security measures.
Syria’s Syrian Arab News Agency reported Friday that Moallem underwent a successful heart surgery.
Moallem has been Syria’s top diplomat since 2006 and led the Syrian government delegation at peace talks in Geneva.
Two rounds of peace negotiations in January and February failed to result in an agreement on a transitional government or halt the war that has killed an estimated 146,000 people since the uprising began in March 2011.