Iraq’s foreign minister says President Talabani not dead

Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told Al Arabiya on Tuesday that President Jalal Talabani was not dead.

Iraqi television reported earlier that 79-year-old President Jalal Talabani died at a hospital in Baghdad.

Talabani's office said he was admitted to a Baghdad hospital on Monday night and the 79-year-old president was in a stable condition under intensive medical supervision after receiving treatment for blocked arteries.

"He was transferred to hospital late last night after suffering a stroke," a senior Kurdish official said.