The newly elected president of Ethiopia, Girma Woldegiorgis, who was hospitalised in Saudi Arabia is said to be in good condition, the pro-government Walta Information Centre reported on 20 October. The 76 year-old president was flown to Saudi Arabia on 13 October after suffering a minor health problem, a foreign ministry statement said at the time. Girma who had earlier been admitted suffering from pneumonia at the armed forces hospital in Addis Ababa, before being flown to Saudi Arabia, was reportedly "registering marked improvement and responding well to treatments" in Saudi Arabia, said Walta. Girma was a surprise choice for the mostly ceremonial position, and was elected unopposed by parliament. He had previously served as parliamentary Speaker during the reign of the late Emperor Haile Selassie.
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