Mubarak had disappeared from the chamber for at least 45 minutes

CAIRO, November 19 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resumed his speech to parliament Wednesday, November 19, after he was taken ill and left the chamber with what an official described as a "severe 'flu," state television showed.

Mubarak had disappeared from the chamber for at least 45 minutes, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Mubarak was taken ill while addressing parliament on Wednesday, Egyptian state television said after interrupting broadcast of his speech.

Mubarak, 75, was seen coughing, taking out a handkerchief and wiping perspiration from his brow moments before the station cut the broadcast of his speech in the People's Assembly for several minutes.

Sound transmission continued for seconds longer than the picture, with coughing and shouting heard.

When the broadcast of the assembly resumed, Mubarak was absent from the podium and a television announcer reported that the president had suffered a "minor health problem."

The assembly speaker, Fathi Srour, told the chamber, where both the parliament and the senate were meeting in a joint session, that "the president is fine and in several minutes he will come back to resume his speech."

Mubarak had postponed to Wednesday the keynote speech he had originally planned to deliver to parliament Sunday after falling ill with a fever, officials said.

Sources in parliament had said the president was suffering from a high temperature.

Every year Mubarak reviews his government's domestic and foreign policy in a speech marking the opening of parliament.

In 1981, Mr. Mubarak became President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Chairman of the National Democratic Party.