KING HAMAD'S HEALTH: KING MEETS GCC AMBASSADORS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000724 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL BA POL SUBJECT: KING HAMAD'S HEALTH: KING MEETS GCC AMBASSADORS IN LONDON REF: A. MANAMA 706 B. MANAMA 700 Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reason: 1.4 (B)(D) ¶1. (C) Three days after the Crown Prince indicated that a photo opportunity might be arranged to put to rest rumors about the King's health (reftel),King Hamad on July 28 met with the GCC Ambassadors stationed in London to discuss regional developments. The meeting received front-page coverage in all the country's newspapers, as well as prime-time television coverage in which the King was seen descending stairs in his London residence with the envoys and talking with them. In the television coverage, he appeared healthy with no visible signs of illness. ¶2. (C) Comment: While we are lacking concrete details about the King's exact medical issues, this clearly orchestrated event appears to have helped dampen rumors about the King's health, which had continued to circulate in Bahrain. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE