|
American Hospital Denies Treating Bin Laden
DUBAI, Oct 31 (News Agencies) - The American Hospital in Dubai denied reports Wednesday that reputed terrorist mastermind, Osama bin Laden, underwent a 10-day treatment there in July for a kidney complaint, news agencies reported Wednesday.
"He was never a patient here for any days," Chief Executive Officer Bernard Koval told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
In Paris, Le Figaro newspaper and Radio France International reported that the prime suspect in the deadly September 11 attacks in the United States also met a U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) official in his hospital bedroom.
Quoting "a witness, a professional partner of the administrative management of the hospital," they said bin Laden arrived in the Gulf emirate on July 4 by air from Quetta, Pakistan.
He was immediately taken to the hospital for kidney treatment. He left the establishment on July 14, Le Figaro said.
During his stay, the daily said, the local CIA representative was seen going into bin Laden's room and "a few days later, the CIA man boasted to some friends of having visited the Saudi-born millionaire."
Quoting "an authoritative source," Le Figaro and the radio station said the CIA representative had been recalled to Washington on July 15.
Le Figaro said bin Laden was accompanied in Dubai by his personal physician and close collaborator, who could be Ayman al-Zawahari, as well as bodyguards and an Algerian nurse.
He was reportedly admitted to the urology department of Doctor Terry Callaway, who specializes in kidney stones and male infertility.
"I've spoken to all the medical workers, physicians, and Callaway himself and they know nothing. I was here for the whole month of July," Koval said. "It's erroneous and fallacious."
Emirati officials made no comment on the reports.
"Osama bin Laden has never been here. He's never been a patient and he's never been treated here. We have no idea of his medical condition," insisted Koval. "This is too small a hospital for someone to be sneaked through the back door."
Bin Laden has been sought by the United States for terrorism since the bombing of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. He has also been accused by the Bush Administration for the September 11 attacks against New York and Washington.
The Saudi-exile's links with the CIA date to the 1980's and the fight against Soviet forces in Afghanistan, where he is now under the protection of Taliban and the target of massive U.S.-led military campaign.
The American Hospital in Dubai, which opened in 1995, is a 100-bed, acute care, general medical-surgical hospital.
|
