Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas suffers bruises after fall, but says he’s in good health

Abbas ordered to rest after falling

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Friday that doctors ordered him to rest after a fall left him with a bruised back.

Abbas was taken to a hospital in Amman, Jordan, for X-rays, which showed no broken bones.

The Palestinian leader has a home in Amman in addition to the one he has in the West Bank, and frequently stays in the Jordanian capital during layovers on trips in and out of the Palestinian territory.

“Thank God, I am in good health,” Abbas said in a statement Friday, adding that doctors advised him to rest for a few days.

Aides said that Abbas, who turns 75 later this month, is also receiving physical therapy.

Dr. Abdullah Bashir, a Jordanian surgeon who regularly examines the Palestinian leader during his visits to Jordan, said that Abbas had experienced back pain since a fall last week.

“He wasn’t dizzy or anything, but just slipped while walking,” Bashir said. “He was feeling uncomfortable and came to Jordan yesterday (Thursday) to have his back checked.”

Abbas aide Nabil Abu Rdeneh did not specify where the accident took place.

Abbas met Friday with an aide to Jordan’s King Abdullah, and is slated to hold talks with U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell on Monday. Abu Rdeneh would not say whether Abbas will meet with Mitchell in the West Bank or Amman.

Abu Rdeneh said Abbas is expected to travel to Libya on March 26 for an Arab League summit.

(This version CORRECTS that Abbas fell last week instead of Friday, and that Abbas aide did not specify where the fall took place.)