Abbas suffering from pneumonia, condition improving

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is suffering from pneumonia but his condition is improving, confirmed the officials who visited him in hospital.

"He suffers from pneumonia and is treated with antibiotics,"Ahmad Tibi, an Arab member of the Knesset, who is also a doctor, wrote on Twitter.

Abbas's condition had "markedly improved." "He will spend several more days in the hospital. We discussed several political issues," Tibi added.

Appearing on official media, Saed Sarahna, the head of the Istishari Arab Hospital near Ramallah, said Abbas had an "infection in his right lung and he was given the necessary treatment and is now recovering," Sarahna said."

Pictures of Abbas walking around the wards and reading a newspaper were also published, in an apparent bid to pacify speculation that his condition was critical.

Abbas was hospitalised on May 19 with high fever, Al Jazeera reported.

The 83-year-old was suffering from a fever as a result of an ear infection, several media reports stated.

Abbas' health is the subject of regular speculation, with no clear successor identified.

A heavy smoker, Abbas has a long history of health issues.