Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif Sunday conveyed President Hosni Mubarak's greetings to the Arab leaders gathering in Libya, denying preparations for them to visit the Egyptian leader in Egypt. "President Mubarak is having a convalescence time," Nazif said on the sidelines of the current Arab summit in Libya. Three weeks away, Mubarak returned to the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh from Germany where he had his gallbladder removed on Saturday. Nazif was delegated by Mubarak to attend the Arab summit. Dr Markus Buechler, Mubarak's German doctor at Heidelberg University Hospital, said in a statement that Mubarak had recovered from surgery but needed further rest. "The President has fully recovered. I have recommended, however, that the president continues his convalescence back home during the coming two weeks before he gradually returns to full and normal activity," he added on Saturday. Mubarak, who handed over presidential powers just before his operation to Premier Nazif, reassumed them upon arriving in Egypt, according to the governmental officials. In 2003, he collapsed during a speech to Parliament, which was blamed on a combination of cold medication and fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. A year later, he reportedly had a minor back operation, also in Germany. Last week, official television aired footage of Mubarak talking to his doctors and then speaking with his prime minister on the phone. "It was a hard beating," Mubarak said of his surgery.
