Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was hospitalized briefly on Tuesday after losing consciousness in his car while being driven to parliament in Ankara for his weekly address to lawmakers. Doctors attributed the episode to low blood sugar brought on by fatigue and fasting.
Erdoğan, 52, had been observing the Ramadan fast, which began on 24 September. He is generally considered to be in good health and neither drinks alcohol nor smokes.
The prime minister's arrival at Güven Hospital was itself dramatic. Bodyguards were unable to open the door of his armored vehicle and resorted to breaking the front window with a sledgehammer and chisel to extract him. Witnesses said he was unconscious and was immediately placed on a stretcher.
After receiving medication and intravenous fluids, Erdoğan was discharged the same evening. He left the hospital alongside his wife Emine, greeted by children offering flowers and petals. Waving to supporters and photographers, he said, 'Thank you very much, I will continue onwards,' before departing in his official car.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in October 2006, in its own words.