Former Alta. premier Ralph Klein very ill: Friends

CALGARY - Former Alberta premier Ralph Klein says he's 'alright' but friends say he is very sick.

People close to Klein, 68, told QMI Agency he suffers from the serious respiratory disease known as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). It is a disease with no cure.

Hal Walker, president of the Wildrose Alliance and a long-time close friend and adviser to Klein, said the man who was Alberta's premier for 14 years is "not well."

"My heart aches," Walker said. "As he's coming to this point in his life and having some health issues we should celebrate what a great man he is. He's hurting and we should gather around and show him how much we appreciate him."

Walker called Klein a "fallen warrior."

"Every time I see him I want to hug him. He believed in Albertans and he believed in the greatness of Alberta," Walker said.

Klein is a smoker and his illness is an open secret in certain circles in Calgary.

Sources close to him say Klein is finding it more difficult to do the things he loves, like fishing and golfing.

He has gone through a battery of tests. He has a tough time concentrating and has been known to lose his train of thought. He has experienced some memory loss and delayed reactions.

COPD is a umbrella term used for progressive, long-term lung diseases often attributed to smoking and refers commonly to bronchitis and emphysema. In 2008, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported more than 700,000 Canadians had been diagnosed with COPD.

The Canadian Lung Association says on its website that emphysema gets worse over time if you continue to smoke or breathe dirty air.

Emphysema can cause recurring chest infections, including pneumonia, the flu (influeza), cold and the common cold; pulmonary hypertension which means unusually high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs; and can lead to heart failure.

Klein, however, insists it's not as bad as it sounds.

"I've got emphysema. I'm doing alright," he said in a statement through spokesman Rod Love.

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Former Ambassador of Rwanda to the United States calls for international pressure, General Kagame

Former Ambassador of sustained u.s. Rudasingwa says that opposition leader Ingabire victory is a defender of freedom which should be in prison

Former Ambassador Rwanda United States and former Chief of staff, President Paul Kagame has applied to the Rwandan continue their Pacific resistance to what he calls the State-sponsored terrorism by Mr. Kagame.

It's like a Rwanda tribunal Tuesday refused bail to the leader of the opposition victory Ingabire, who was arrested earlier this month on charges of a terrorist group.

Rudasingwa supported told VOA Ingabire is a defender of freedom which are not in prison.

"My comment is first ask why it should be in prison because Ingabire is not a terrorist as they charged him." "In my opinion, I think that it is a freedom fighter and paying a price for it," he said.

By refusing to Igabire bail Tuesday, the Court stated that it could continue its activities and endanger the security of the State if it were left out of prison on bail.

Rudasingwa said explanation Court fits the pattern of the kinds of charges that President Kagame normally makes against his opponents.

"It is not only Ingabire called a terrorist."If you are not charged with terrorism, they say you are a criminal, you corrompus.ils you call a génocide.Cela really match the pattern and the only crime innocent Lady committed is to take the floor against the brutality of President Kagame, "said Rudasingwa."

By its supporters Ingabire said it plans to appeal the decision of the Tribunal.

But Rudasingwa said the chances of winning an appeal before the Rwandan courts are very limited.

"It simply shows that as currently Kagame has converted the country in a virtual prison, and I think he is proud to be his prison chef.Il guard is not Ingabire is a .c terrorist ' is rather the Rwandan people against State terrorism currently imposed by President Kagame said Rudasingwa.".

Rudasingwa called President Kagame to release all political prisoners and the Ingabire.

It is also known as the international community to continue to exert pressure on President Kagame to fundamental freedoms to flourish in Rwanda.

"We call on the international community to Kagame depends for its excess to pressure on him in effect to ensure that fundamental freedoms it flourish in the country," he said.

With what he calls "numerous crimes suspended on the neck of President Kagame", said Rudasingwa that the international community must also ensure that accounts by Mr. Kagame for what former sent said are crimes against the people of Rwanda.

[VOA NEWS]

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