Malawi president suffers heart attack

was in hospital.
Kaliati told Reuters, “What you are saying is news to me. I was with him this morning and I can tell you that he is alright.”
But a senior official at the hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity, said President wa Mutharika suffered cardiac arrest and had remained unconscious since 9:00am yesterday.
Reports said President wa Mutharika was brought to the hospital in a convoy of three cars.
“His head was covered to hide his face as he was wheeled in on a wheel chair,” said one hospital source.
A high ranking official within the government confirmed the development to Xinhua saying the president had had a cardiac arrest.
“It’s true the president is in ICU at Kamuzu Central hospital where he was rushed after                     he had a cardiac arrest earlier today,” said the source.
An unnamed diplomat also told Reuters news agency that President wa Mutharika’s condition was “very serious”.
Another source told AFP that President wa Mutharika collapsed at his official residence and was rushed to hospital in an ambulance.
First Lady Callista, his daughter Duwa, brother Peter Mutharika, the chief secretary to the president Bright Msaka, director of National Intelligence Services Bintony Kutsaira, Inspector General of Police Peter Mukhito and                           senior politicians from his cabinet, including Energy and Environmental Minister Goodall Gondwe, Health Minister Dr Jean Kalirani were among the people who visited him at the heavily-guarded hospital.
All roads leading to the hospital were also reportedly closed. Other sources told Xinhua news agency that President wa Mutharika was undergoing second resuscitation and seemed to be pulling through, while medical sources told Reuters that preparations were underway to airlift                      him to South Africa as soon as his condition stabilised. 
Under Malawi’s constitution, the vice president —  currently Joyce Banda — takes over if the president is too ill to serve. — AFP/Reuters/Xinhua/ Sapa/bbc.co.uk/Harare Bureau.