CAIRO, 20 November 2003 — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak interrupted a nationally televised speech to Parliament yesterday for more than 30 minutes because of health problems before resuming the address amid cheers from lawmakers.

After his return, Mubarak spoke for less than five minutes and then adjourned the Parliament session. Mohammed Farid Hassanein, a member of Parliament representing the opposition Nasserite party, told The Associated Press that based on a text distributed to members, the president completed his speech of about 45 minutes.

“My brothers and sisters, members of the (upper and lower houses of Parliament), the people gave me the responsibility of building the future of this nation. And I did it with honor,” said Mubarak, who had been described as suffering from a cold aggravated by fasting for the holy month of Ramadan. After concluding the speech, he was driven away in a limousine.

Before the interruption, the 75-year-old Mubarak, his face appearing puffy, had coughed and sneezed, his voice had begun to weaken and his speech sounded slightly slurred. His voice was stronger when he returned and he responded to shouts of support from members of Parliament with smiles, waves and thanks before returning to his speech on domestic and foreign policy.

Egypt is a key US ally seen as a moderate mediator in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The Parliament opening had been postponed from Sunday because Mubarak was said to have been suffering from a cold.

Yesterday, lawmaker Murtada Mansour of Mubarak’s National Democratic Party told The Associated Press that Mubarak had complained that the hall was hot and was sweating before his speech was interrupted.

Mansour and a member of Parliament from the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed El Mursy, said Mubarak was able to walk away from the podium without aid. But another ruling party member, Mahmoud Mar’aouf, said the president was helped by his bodyguards.

The reaction to Mubarak’s ill health was described as chaotic, with members of Parliament standing and shouting, making it difficult for some to see what was happening at the podium. Minister of Health Mohamed Awad Tag Eddin, who is a doctor, told state television Mubarak had a cold and suffered a slight dip in blood pressure. The minister said Mubarak underwent a checkup before resuming his speech.