A spokesman says Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad suffered a heart attack while visiting the U.S.

Official: Palestinian PM suffered heart attack

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - A spokesman says Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad suffered a heart attack while visiting the U.S. for his son's college graduation.

Spokesman Jamal Zakout says Fayyad is recovering and is expected to leave the Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas, in two days.

Zakout says Fayyad felt strong chest pain on Sunday and went to the hospital to be tested. He says Fayyad suffered a heart attack while in the hospital. Zakout says tests showed a blockage in a coronary artery. Doctors performed a catheterization to open the artery.

Fayyad, a heavy smoker, has been prime minister since 2007. The political independent could lose his job as a result of a recent reconciliation agreement between political rivals Hamas and Fatah.


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