Indonesia’s Suharto may leave hospital this week

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Former Indonesian strongman Suharto,
who has been in a hospital for nearly a month with internal
bleeding, may go home this week, a senior doctor said on
Monday.

Suharto, who ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for 32
years, was admitted in early May after bleeding in his
digestive system lowered oxygen levels, including that in his
brain. Doctors have since performed several operations.

“He has been in a stable condition since Saturday … If he
continues to be in a stable condition then he will return home
this week,” Kunindro Dadi told Reuters.

There was still some liquid in Suharto’s lungs due to
prolonged immobility but that will soon disappear once the
former leader starts to walk again, Dadi added.

Suharto, who will be 85 next week, has been in hospital a
number of times since stepping down in 1998 when social and
political chaos engulfed Indonesia. He has suffered several
strokes and has had lung and kidney problems.