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Suharto's health takes a turn for the worse, doctors say

The health of former Indonesian dictator Suharto deteriorated yesterday, with a potentially lethal infection spreading through his body, his doctors said.

Suharto, 86, who brutally ruled the nation for 32 years until being toppled a decade ago by a pro-democracy uprising, has developed digestive trouble and severe pneumonia, said Joko Raharjo, a member of the presidential medical team.

"We are trying hard to find and detect the bacteria and treat him with proper antibiotics, but we cannot guarantee it will be successful," he told reporters. "We are not happy with his condition today."

Suharto, who was rushed to a hospital with anemia and a dangerously low heart rate on Jan. 4, has suffered multiple organ failure and is on a ventilator, dialysis machine and is being fed through a tube.

"There are new infections in several parts of his body," physician Marjo Subiandono said. "The increased sepsis is threatening his life."

A week after being admitted to Jakarta's Pertamina Hospital, his heart briefly stopped and doctors said privately he was on the verge of death. Preparations began for a state funeral.

But last weekend doctors were optimistic, saying he was staging an "amazing recovery," had spoken, eaten and moved his hands.

Then yesterday, his condition took a turn for the worse again and doctors said tests revealed worsening sepsis -- a "systemic infection" of the blood -- and warned that Suharto's age and weak immune system were working against him.

Sepsis is particularly dangerous for the elderly and patients in critical condition.

Doctors also said fluid was accumulating in his lungs.

"His condition is worse this morning because fluid is accumulating in his lungs and the pneumonia has spread to both lungs," said another physician, Hadiarto Mangunnegoro.

Suharto led a regime widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most brutal and corrupt for 32 years until he was toppled in May 1998 amid massive democracy street rallies. Since then, he has lived a reclusive life in a villa in downtown Jakarta.
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