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Article: Honecker Reported to Be Gravely Ill;West Germany Braces for Influx of East Germans From Hungary
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- August 31, 1989
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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The West German government said today that it believes veteran
East German leader Erich Honecker is seriously ill following what
sources described as an unsuccessful gall bladder operation earlier
this month.
"According to everything that one hears, Honecker isn't doing so
well," chief government spokesman Hans Klein said at a regularly
scheduled news conference.
The East German Foreign Ministry said Honecker, who turned 77
Friday, was "making further progress in his recovery" but declined to
comment on whether the operation had been successful.
Honecker's illness has coincided with a sharp surge in the number
of East Germans fleeing the country, perhaps the most embarrassing
political ...